DJ Wolfson

10/18/15
Problem Statement:
Dave is baking a cherry pie. When the pie was finished, many wondered, how will we
cut the pie? Since isnt a fan of even, and generic slices of pie that go through the middle, Dave
began planning his ways of cutting the pie. Our job is to find out the maximum amount of slices
per cut we can get. One rule is that the slices must not go through the center of the pie. Here is
a table of how many maximum cuts per slice we can get. We are tasked to find the unknown
outputs on the table.

Process:

Total # of Cuts

Maximum # of Slices

10

The first thing I did in this problem was look at the table given and look for anyway there
could be a pattern. I knew that I could simply attempt to draw out the circles, but with a half
done table in front of me, I knew this would be the most efficient way to start the problem.
Quickly on, I noticed that the maximum number of slices was equivalent to the next total number
of cuts plus the last maximum slice. An example of this would be with the total of 4 slices. To
find out the next total, add the 4 last amount of slices, and the the current total of cuts which is
3. 3+4=7 which is the next total maximum slice. Here are some other example of how this
pattern would work.
1 (Y step 0) + 1 (X step 1) = 2 (Y step 1)
2 (Y step 1) + 2 (X step 2) = 4 (Y step 2)
4 (Y step 2) + 3 (X step 3) = 7 (Y step 3)
As shown above , to find the next output, you need to find the sum of the last output and
the current input. If you were to follow this pattern, you table would look like this:
Total # of Cuts

Maximum # of Slices

11

16

22

29

37

46

10

56

My first idea was to graph this table on the program Desmos. When I graphed the
coordinates onto desmos and this is what it looks like:

My first thought was that you would use an exponential function due to the functions
similar way of increasing. I concluded that this wouldnt make sense because the line stays at
(x ,1) meaning that no matter how many negative cuts you make into the pie, you will have
a negative amount of slices. This is not true since when you plug the coordinates into the graph
as negative, they do not match the exponential functions as
shown below:

Solution:

While speaking to my peer Shendo, I spoke about how I couldnt use an exponential
function, and how I was looking for a function that was mirrored for both positive and negative.
Thankfully, he pointed out quadratic functions and gave me a little lesson on what they were,
and how create a function using it.
To make an equation for this problem, I wanted to know what step 0 would be for (x,y). f
there was no cuts in the pie, only one slice would exist that encompasses the whole pie. In a

a x 2+ bx
+c ), c=1 . In this case, c is the Y intercept. Instead of
2
using f ( x) , I will use y to keep it more understandable for myself. In this equation a
and b are both 1 since we only want and quantity of 1 x 2 and 1 x . The function will one
quadratic function ( f (x)=

cover either the positive, or the negative, but not at the same time. To change which coordinates
the function will cover, you simply make the second x a negative ( x ).
In this case, the positive coordinates are the ones that matter since we are looking for
the maximum slices not the lowest possible. The equation that I had gotten was
. Here is what this equation looks
graph:

y=

x 2+ x
+1
2

like when plugged into the

Essentially, you add the last output and the most current input to get the next output.
Here is what this table would like visually:

3 cuts = 7 maximum cuts

5 cuts = 16 maximum slices

4 cuts = 11 maximum slices

Extension:
For an extension for a problem similar to this would involve the exploration and practice
of different types of non-linear functions. A version of this extension would be a problem similar
to this one but have a scenario and specific coordinates that require the use of an exponential
function. Not only could this be done with exponential, but just about any other function
depending on how difficult you wanted it to be. I chose exponential in my example because I
just recently used it, and have more knowledge on that function compared to many others.
Self-Assessment and Reflection:
Personally I felt that this assignment was very easy in terms of finding the pattern, and
since it was far more attainable for me since I knew exactly what I was supposed to do in this
problem. Compared to last week, this was a relief and Im glad for this even though I want to be
challenged more often than last year. I would say this was a good mix of challenge for me when
it came to making an equation for this problem, but my process to get to that point was pretty
good. From what I can tell from the last few P.O.W.s is that Im capable of doing all the build up
to make the problem sensible, but Im challenge when it comes to making an equation. My goal
by the end of the year is to learn what sigma is and how to use in these equations.
If I was to grade myself on this problem, I would say I did around an 8/10 because I was
capable of doing the process alone, and when it came to doing the equation, I feel like I could
have discovered it without Shendos help about quadratic functions. The two Habits of a
Mathematician that I prominently used in this problem were starting small, and being systematic.
I started small by mainly focusing on the table that was given to us, and worked my way from
that. I was systemic throughout the problem, though I did so most prominently when I was
testing what type of function to use for the graph.