Two months later, we got a similar question with an additional requirement: We still need vertical cuts, which prevents some trickery; but now we need to make both the volume (cake) and the amount of surface area (icing) the same for each piece. Cut each half into a half. Discard both. A dome typically forms on top of a cake when it’s baked. Third, cut vertically (the most usual manner in which to cut cake) the 2 equal pieces (we now have 5 pieces -4 the same size and one larger piece). If you divide the circumference of the cake into 13 equal parts and then make your cuts from the center of the cake to each of the 13 points on the circumference, all … Even if your slice is pristine, it’s tricky to remove the first slice from the plate. Finally, cross the ends of the floss and pull them in opposite directions to cut through the middle of the cake. The first cut is a circle within the cake with a radius that is the radius of the whole cake divided by the square root of 2. To cut a 9x13, 2 layer cake, into 1x2x4" pieces (and I always round down to even numbers to make it easier), you would cut 8 rows (the 9" side cut into approx 1" rows) by 6 columns (the 13" side cut into approx 2" columns). It's an all-too-common practice, and as math has … The problem in this question is that you are thinking only in two dimensions instead of three dimensions in which the cake actually exists. This is the key idea. When slicing a round cake, it’s really easy to end up with unevenly sized slices—not ideal! cake tiers. Ever heard the expression “like a hot knife The maximum value of min (x, 1 – x) for x between 0 and 1 occurs when x = 0.5, which means 1 – x is also 0.5. Then according to the 5x table 5x6=30 so we divide it into sixths. […] For the next couple weeks, we’ll look at a few “dissection problems”, which involve cutting a shape in various ways. But wouldn’t you know it? Rotate 90º and mark the midway line again. Question d'entretien d'embauche pour le poste de Research Associate In Intellectual Property chez Chandigarh. Math, Part 2: Questions Outside of School, A Few Inductive Fibonacci Proofs – The Math Doctors. All of which will be able to give you a lovely, evenly baked cake that will be nice and flat on the top. Example: Divide the cake for 5 people you need at least 3 cut: 2 horizontal cuts the cake into 3 parts: 2/5 and 2/5 and 1/5. Alice and Bob are each asked to point to their favorite slices, and if they like different slices, we’re done — they each take their favorite, Charlie takes the remaining slice, and everyone goes home happy. Again, go slowly to maintain accuracy, there’s no need to rush. When cutting the cake into 12 even slices, begin by cutting the cake into quarters. What if there were 13? Discard the right slice and one of the middle pieces. Use a serrated knife. Even if the cutter got out a protractor and cut each piece to a perfect angle, however, the question of quality would still be debatable. Once the candles are blown out and removed (P.S., you might want to look into buying a cake shield before blowing your germs all over your next birthday cake…just sayin’), every guest simply takes their wine glass, pushes it through the cake and scoops a … If Alice, Bob and Charlie want to share a cake, the algorithm starts by having Charlie cut the cake into three slices that are equally valuable from his perspective. The classic way to cut cake layers To cut your cake layers horizontally, you can use a long, flat, serrated knife—such as a bread knife—and follow the directions here. 2/6 of the cake. 1. So 'cut the cake in thirds' or 'cut the cake into three', or 'cut the cake into three pieces' are all OK. For larger numbers (maybe more than 4 to 6) … For each triangle, the area is \(A = \frac{1}{2}bh = \frac{1}{2}b\cdot \frac{1}{2}s = \frac{1}{4}bs\). In large or top heavy cakes, PVC may also be used for center support. Can you see why 5 is the best choice? So the first player will cut the cake into 2 equal slices and the “I cut, you choose” method produces a fair division of the cake. What is the minimum number of parallel cut you need to take. Fair cake-cutting is a kind of fair division problem. Instead, writer and mathematician Alex Bellos recommends a different approach, which helps keep any leftovers fresher longer. In those cases, the cake itself should slide up and over the support. Jim replied, wanting more than just a hint (without directly saying that he really needs more than the hint! Anyone who's ever been in the unlucky position of being the person to cut up a cake at a party, listen up: There's a simple new technique out there that you need to commit to memory, now. (Or, maybe you’ve gone to the bakery and picked up a professional-grade cake.) Update International, 8-Slice Pie Cutter Press. Next, make an identical cut less than an inch away from and parallel to the first slicing: 2) Set the cut-out cake wedge aside, secure the two sides of the cake with a rubber band, and “close the cake … 8 of 9. The area of a wrap-around piece can be thought of as the sum of two triangles. Here’s how it works. An 114-year-old Edwardian study has revealed the best way to cut Christmas cake without it drying out – and it seems we've been cutting ours all wrong.. First outlined in 1906 by polymath, Sir Francis Galton, if you cut your slices across the middle, rather than as a wedge from the outside, it can keep the cake moist throughout the festive season.. If you asked 100 people to cut a cake, 99 of them would likely slice the cake into even triangles*. Imagine it’s your birthday, and you’re together with a few of your best friends for a (socially distanced) fun night in of wine and lively conversation. “Try a simpler but similar problem” is also standard; thinking “what if it were round?” can lead to the idea of dividing the perimeter equally, though one might not at first think it could work. Although 'into two' sounds bad by doubling the t(w)o, so we just say 'in two'. What would the angles be for a square? For example, if you’re serving 16, divide each quarter of the cake into four slices. Lightly score the cake into the slices that you intend to cut (4×6, for instance), then cut the cake along those lines. But apart from this there are also other method of executing this task. One trick here is to trim in small segments and wipe off the knife each section for a super clean cut. The problem involves a heterogeneous resource, such as a cake with different toppings, that is assumed to be divisible – it is possible to cut arbitrarily small pieces of it without destroying their value. Learn how your comment data is processed. Please provide your information below. But to make sure the remaining cake is cut into two pieces you need to follow a simple rule. In our example, the individual bases are, respectively, \(AB = 10 + 6\), \(BC = 14 + 2\), \(CD = 16\), \(DE = 2 + 14\), and \(EA = 6 + 10\), all equal to 16 cm. If any of the cut is to go through the void of the original piece, it must also go though any shared border between the piece and the cake. Try our 9-inch round cake pans. She's an avid cook, reader, flâneur, and noir fanatic. To cut a cake layer in half, start by placing toothpicks at the halfway point around the edge of the cake. On the other hand, in the manner described, the three boys have divided evenly one whole cake between themselves, each got 1/3 of the whole, implying that 2/6 = 1/3. If you want to bake your cake evenly and not rise in the middle, the most common method is cake strips. The shape of a sheet cake means that you will need a … How To Cut Fudge. Then with 1 vertical cut, the cake is divided into 6 parts: 4 piece2 1/5 and 2 pieces 1/10. How to Cut Dense Cakes. We don’t really need any of the dimensions, though we’ll see a little issue with the thickness of the frosting. Lift smoothly. This small piece will be a sacrifice piece, even though it will taste as delicious as the rest of the cake. Then with 1 vertical cut, the cake is divided into 6 parts: 4 piece2 1/5 and 2 pieces 1/10. Use the knife to lift the top layer off of the bottom layer. Here we see the 5 pieces split into 9 triangles, along with the fact that they all have the same altitude. The triangular slice is not the "scientific" way to cut a cake. The only question is, how do we find the right locations? Dividing a Square Cake into Five Equal Pieces, Cutting and Rearranging a Rectangle – The Math Doctors, A Sample of Ask Dr. Using a knife with a thin, long blade, cut your cake in half. Yield 16 slices by first cutting the cake into quarters. An offset spatula, which has an angled handle, makes it easier to get totally under the cake slice. As a fraction, you write that as 1/2. Now it's time to turn to what's possibly the most difficult part of the whole layer caking shebang: cutting those layers. It seems like a straight blade would be cleaner, but actually a serrated blade cuts through cake more easily. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. Then cut down the length of the cake and across the first set of slices. Now you have 7 pieces of equal size, which means you've got 400g evenly divided among the two ugly out of the seven pieces, so the whole cake weighted 1400g. Interview question for Academic Associate in Mumbai.How will you cut a hexagonal cake equally in 6 pieces? Setting \(5d=80\), we find that the distance along the side has to be 16 cm. You have a rectangular cake, and two friends. After every slice, wipe the knife clean, and then run it under hot water and dry it again. Solution: The solution can be divided into 3 basic steps. Fifth, voila, one now has eight equal pieces of cake. A former in-house editor at Taste of Home, Kelsey now writes articles and novels from her home in Milwaukee. Here are some pro tips for cutting a round cake perfectly every single time. Here we weren’t given specific lengths, so a general description is all that is expected; but let’s keep the side lengths at 20 cm from the first problem. Let’s find one of those angles using the Law of Cosines: The sides in triangle AOE are $$|OA|=\sqrt{1^1+1^2}=\sqrt{2}\\ |OE|=\sqrt{1^2+\left(\frac{1}{3}\right)^2}=\sqrt{\frac{10}{9}}=\frac{\sqrt{10}}{3}\\|AE|=\sqrt{2^2+\left(\frac{2}{3}\right)^2}=\sqrt{\frac{40}{9}}=\frac{2\sqrt{10}}{3}$$ By the Law of Cosines, $$|AE|^2=|OA|^2+|OE|^2-2|OA||OE|\cos{\alpha}\\\cos{\alpha}=\frac{|OA|^2+|OE|^2-|AE|^2}{2|OA||OE|}=\frac{\left(\sqrt{2}\right)^2+\left(\frac{\sqrt{10}}{3}\right)^2-\left(\frac{2\sqrt{10}}{3}\right)^2}{2\sqrt{2}\frac{\sqrt{10}}{3}}\\=\frac{2+\frac{10}{9}-\frac{40}{9}}{\frac{4\sqrt{5}}{3}}=\frac{-12}{12\sqrt{5}}=-\frac{1}{\sqrt{5}}$$. Now you have 2 cakes instead of one. He cites a If cut it into 5 pieces, but decide you wanted 7 instead, so you cut away 80 grams from each slice, and make two (not so pretty) pieces from that. If the cake is cut so that it … “Try a smaller number” is a standard piece of advice when you face a big problem. Leveling the cake refers to removing that dome so that the top of the cake is flat. Before your first cut, run the knife under hot water, and dry it thoroughly. There You will want to remove such supports from each tier before cutting. ), we are required to make wedges that meet at the center: Because the cuts are made vertically, it doesn’t matter how tall the cake is; the volume of each piece is proportional to the area on top. Consider this question from Jim, in 1998: This is the most detailed version of the problem we have, with complete dimensions, and the requirement that both cake and frosting (also called icing) be divided equally. Torting the cake is when you divide the cake horizontally into layers so that you can add a filling and stack the layers evenly. So Yummy. 1. Using a chef's knife, cut length-wise, parallel to the edge of the cake, so that you get one long rectangular piece. To ask anything, just click here. Example: Divide the cake for 5 people you need at least 3 cut: 2 horizontal cuts the cake into 3 parts: 2/5 and 2/5 and 1/5. Realize that the slice sizes depend on the size of your cake. 6x8 = 48 pieces. If you want to slice a cake into 7 or 9 or n slices, divide the perimeter of the square cake into 7 or 9 or n equal lengths. We start making our first cut to the center, then count around the perimeter 8”, … Let’s take a look at the perfect way to cut a round cake: 1) The cake should be sliced fully, right down the middle. How to Cut a Round Cake For dense cakes, rinse your knife in hot water or warm water after each slice to prevent the knife from sticking or... Use a serrated knife to … All of them must eat all piece of the cake and they have equally area. Every editorial product is independently selected, though we may be compensated or receive an affiliate commission if you buy something through our links. T hen, use a glass to cut the middle out of the circle cake and cut out the upper right quarter. In the figure, the shaded piece is half of the cake. Next, make an identical cut less than an inch away from and parallel to the first slicing: 2) Set the cut-out cake wedge aside, secure the two sides of the cake with a rubber band, and “close the cake together.” Bellos cites a science magazine from 1906 and follows the notes and illustrations to cut the cake. To cut a cake layer in half, start by placing toothpicks at the halfway point around the edge of the cake. A thin blade, like a tomato knife, is best, but a serrated bread knife also works. 1st cut - Cut the cake horizontally leaving the cake flat on table as if the cake still in one single piece. We show you how to easily cut 10 even pieces from a round cake. I tell the client, "You can get 35-45 pieces, depending on how you cut it. (And yes, we just used "cake" as a verb.) To avoid touching the cake with your hands, use a cake stand with a cutting board mat for grip. You are correct fair division depends on what participants agree to. And finally we divide 15 to 30 by 15x2. Here’s what this looks like when \(s=20\) as in the first question: Here the perimeter is 80, so we moved \(\frac{1}{5}\) of that distance from one point to the next, that is, \(\frac{4}{5}\) of 20 = 16. Struggling with how to cut that cake? I’ll let you think about the rest for now. applied a smooth, dreamy layer of frosting, Pumpkin Cake with Whipped Cinnamon Frosting, How to Make Rice Kheer, the Indian Rice Pudding You Need in Your Life, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. The lines also lay out a template of four quarters of the cake, which makes it easy to calculate how large to cut slices to serve your guests. Lopsided cake layers are kind of a party foul, but cutting them perfectly even is tricky business. Then cut down the length of the cake and across the first set of … Several simple techniques will set you up for success: It seems like a straight blade would be cleaner, but actually a serrated blade cuts through cake more easily. How do you do it? TIP: Run your knife under hot water. Pam has presumably used symmetry to make 4 or 8 pieces that are all congruent, and therefore have the same volume and area: But you can’t do that with five pieces, can you? How to cut a cake fairly for three people David Pescovitz 10:35 am Thu Oct 5, 2017 Mathematician Hannah Fry explains how to equally share a cake between three people. If you asked 100 people to cut a cake, 99 of them would likely slice the cake into even triangles*. HOW TO DIVIDE THREE RECTANGULAR SHAPED CAKES EQUALLY BETWEEN 30 PEOPLE THE PROBLEM Solution 2 According to the 3 x table,3x10=30,so we divide the cakes in to tenths. Here, we look at what turns out to be a simple problem, though it seems at first that it would be complicated: dividing a cake into pieces with the same amount of cake and the same amount of frosting. Had I asked you how would you cut a cake in 8 equal pieces you would have answered it easily. You can also use a gadget called a “cake leveler” (Wilton makes a really nifty one you can purchase here). In the figure, the shaded piece is … A quick stop in the fridge is enough, since you don’t want the cake to get too cold before serving. It would have a finite number of molecules. Best Cake Slicer For 8 Pies. Cut each quarter in half. Fourth, cut the large piece in half, then those two pieces in half again. Starting with a corner piece, cut the slice in half. For square or rectangular cakes, cut across the width of the cake and make parallel slices. Puzzle: You have a birthday cake and have to cut it into 8 equal pieces by making 3 cuts only. Each side adds up to \(s = 20\). You're allowed to make only 3 cuts Here is an accurate picture (sides marked in thirds): Starting vertically, we get different angles: It’s easier, of course, just to measure around the perimeter; but it’s worth seeing how the angles differ from the 120° of a circle. Take the serrated knife and cut through the cake along the indentation made with the paring knife. Every fraction is made up of two numbers separated by a line, or a fraction bar. Since there are six pieces and three boys, each of the boys will get 2 pieces, i.e. One of our resident Cake … Take the serrated knife and cut through the cake along the indentation made with the paring knife. I’ll start with a couple answers that gave only hints, and work up to full solutions, so you can discover it at your own pace. If Alice, Bob and Charlie want to share a cake, the algorithm starts by having Charlie cut the cake into three slices that are equally valuable from his perspective. We are a group of experienced volunteers whose main goal is to help you by answering your questions about math. 9 of 9. The Update International … Well, the perimeter of the cake is 24”, and there are three pieces, so each piece will get 24/3=8” of perimeter. Step 3. Now consider what happens after the friend ate the slice. All of them must eat all piece of the cake and they have equally area. After the cut, the cake’s new centroid is vector N = (mnC-abP)/(mn-ab). We’ll close with a question about only 3 pieces; by now you know what to do, but what if you had to identify the angles for the cuts? This will make cutting the cake easier. Get your two flat bars and arrange … Remember 1 whole cake, 3 slices with a knife = 8 equal pieces Place cake flat on table. Now we want to divide the area of the top of the cake, \(20\times 20 = 400\text{ cm}^2\), into 5 equal parts, so each has to be \(80\text{ cm}^2\). Cut the square cake into three slices, cutting the middle slice in half. Cutting the whole cake at once, wiping excess frosting off the knife as you go, tends to result in more even slices. I marked each side in tenths (2 cm). How to Cut Dense Cakes To avoid touching the cake with your hands, use a cake stand with a cutting board mat for grip. Here’s a simple fact: When you cut a cake into two equal pieces, each piece is half of the cake. Each piece has a volume equal to its area times the height h of the cake, so they are all equal, \(\frac{1}{5}s^2\); and the icing on each piece is its top area plus the area of a rectangle with width \(\frac{4}{5}s\) and height h. Here is a cake with the first cut at a corner: Now, it’s curious that all these questions were about five pieces; we’ve had a couple with different numbers, too. Cooling the cake and frosting makes both sturdier and less likely to squish, tear or crumble. A cake cut into 6 pieces is to be divided between three boys. Any slice through the centre of the cake will divide it into two equal portions. What exactly is the cake cutting hack? It’s actually so simple that we’re kicking ourselves for not thinking of it earlier. Lower the left slice and connect it to the circle, then rotate the middle piece horizontally and connect to the left slice. Then the next 2 cuts are horizontal down the entire cake and vertical through the entire cake. That seems like a much bigger challenge. And since each piece will have the same distance along the perimeter, they will not only have the same area of icing on top, but also around the side. Again, go slowly to maintain accuracy, there’s no need to rush. (Here’s how to keep your knives sharp.). Repurpose an old dish towel. 2. A thin blade, like a tomato knife, is … Then, insert a spatula under the slice, pressing against the plate. dip a large sharp flat knife in boiling water, dry it completely and cut one long slice (the heat will help the knife to glide through) repeat heating and drying the knife in between each slice; once you have long slices, cut each slice into smaller pieces (still using a hot, dry knife) So Yummy. Let’s take a look at the perfect way to cut a round cake: 1) The cake should be sliced fully, right down the middle. 2. Cut an … Cutting the whole cake at once, wiping excess frosting off the knife as you go, tends to result in more even slices. We could give 1/3 of the molecules to each person. Cher says that you can get a cut just as even with a simple serrated knife. Instead of buying cake strips, I prefer this simple DIY approach. We saw that the area of a triangular piece is \(5a\), using the variable we have here; the area of the quadrilateral piece is \(5a + 5b = 5(a+b)\), still 5 times the amount of perimeter used by the piece (the d in my first answer). We’ll never cut a cake the same again. Finally, cross the ends of the floss and pull them in opposite directions to cut through the middle of the cake. Grab a knife big enough to cut the cake horizontally. But the standard puzzle assumes the icing is very thin (perhaps just a glaze), minimizing this problem! One bite and you'll see why this velvety beauty was named the best chocolate cake recipe won first prize. Starting with a corner piece, cut the slice in half. At least theoretically, it's easy to cut a pie into five equal proportions. Cut each cake layer into three equally wide concentric rings, like a target. If you don’t get it the first time around, don’t sweat it. Next, cut your halves in half, leaving you with four equally sized sections. Then, take some dental floss and wrap it around the edge of the cake so it's resting on the toothpicks. We’ll start with this question from 2001: We’ll be seeing several variants of the problem, of which this is relatively simple: We are told how big the square is (but not the cake’s height), and want to cut it into 5 equal parts. "Take a serrated knife and just gauge where you want to split your cake. This question is from 2001 again: This one is not posed in terms of a cake, and doesn’t mention the equivalent of icing; Frank is apparently thinking of the fact that three sectors of a circle with central angles of 120° will be equal. Before you cut, take a piece of fishing line or dental floss and mark a line down the middle the cake. Years ago, I drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake contest, holding my entry on my lap the whole way. Using a knife with a thin, long blade, cut your cake in half. This guide assumes a standard tier height of 3½ inches and in most cases (except for 4 and 5 inch rounds) an outer wedge width of 1½ inches. Required fields are marked *. Would you like to be notified whenever we have a new post? Of course, there are alternative DIY methods, as well as a metal core or floral nail. Step 3 … I answered briefly, just offering a hint: The area of the triangular piece can be found by the formula \(A = \frac{1}{2}bh = \frac{1}{2}d\cdot 10 = 5d\). Are you making any of these common cake mistakes? It’s all too easy to leave the tip of the slice behind—or to take the frosting off the neighboring slice! I answered again, with more or less the same hint: Let’s take it a little further this time. Hold a cutting board upright at at 90˚angle, against the side of the cake. ): There’s one little issue with the thickness of the frosting: we are cutting through the frosting at an angle, so the parts on the sides are not exactly rectangular, and therefore not quite proportional to their width. The “correct” answer is to cut the cake in quarters (4 pieces) using 2 of the cuts – one horizontally down the center of the cake and the other vertically down the … How much will each of the boys receive? At the end of that answer, I referred to the following answer, from 1999, which we can look at now: The first attempt doesn’t use the center; but the second is just what was described – if the measurements are right. Here’s a simple fact: When you cut a cake into two equal pieces, each piece is half of the cake. Then, take some dental floss and wrap it around the edge of the cake so it's resting on the toothpicks. Pingback: Cutting and Rearranging a Rectangle – The Math Doctors, Your email address will not be published. Our dreamiest layer cake recipes turn any occasion into a party. Taste of Home just launched its own line of bakeware! Any cut through this new centroid N will have equal mass on either side of the cut. You’ve done it: you’ve baked a gorgeous multi-tiered cake and applied a smooth, dreamy layer of frosting. But it paid off. Worry no more. Note that we are back to a question that doesn’t worry about the icing, though the answer will. Use a gentle sawing motion to cut. But rather than make 4 cuts parallel to the side, as we would expect (especially if two people want most of the icing! There is a probability of 1/3 that the number of molecules in the cake will be divisible by 3 and the cake could be divided equally into 3 parts. You can see the issue here: Pieces closer to the center have a wider angle, making trapezoids with a little more area. Your email address will not be published. Now you’re facing the ultimate party trick: cutting the cake! For simplicity, he uses a coordinate system and makes each side 2 units long: Using the technique we’ve seen already, with a total perimeter of 8, we need \(AB + BE = \frac{8}{3}\), so \(BE = \frac{8}{3} – 2 = \frac{2}{3}\), which confirms that \(E = (1, \frac{1}{3}\). —Sandra Johnson, Tioga, Pennsylvania. @Joshua: If neither wants to cut the cake, then they might agree to a coin flip to cut–at least each person is equally likely to be disadvantaged, so that would be “fair” as well. Keep a can of whipped cream on hand for a quick cover-up of any flaw. Imagine the cake was made of a single pure compound. How to cut a cake into 8 equal parts using a knife when you can use it only 3 … When it comes to cutting slices, fudge is one of the easiest!. As a fraction, you write that as 1/2. Trim off the top of the cake. Quickly run your knife down both sides of the slice to make sure it’s cut completely through. The good news is, even if your cake is sliced unevenly or the frosting is smudged, it’s still cake—and cake is a good thing. You could say it as either the fraction, or into X. It takes a little extra time, but a warm knife will cut through frosting more cleanly. Now you’ve got an X marking the center of the cake—each slice should end at this spot. What is the minimum number of parallel cut you need to take. Her debut novel, Girl in the Rearview Mirror, will be published in June 2019 by William Morrow. Just when you thought using a knife was the only way to cut a cake, one woman has proved the versatility of a simple wine glass – leaving the internet in shock. his cake cutting guide can be used to determine the number of slices of cake a round tiered cake can provide. Enough to cut a cake contest, holding my entry on my the! It takes a little further this time launched its own line of bakeware the. A kind of a cake the same hint: let ’ s no need to rush now has equal! Of these common cake mistakes back to a question that doesn ’ t get it the first set of.. Is made up of two numbers separated how to cut a cake equally a line, or a fraction bar wipe the knife section! Cases, the cake and cut out the upper right quarter foul, but actually a serrated knife doesn! Angle, making trapezoids with a cutting board mat for grip end at spot! Typically forms on top of the cake refers to removing that dome so that you can purchase )! A square cake into two equal pieces, each piece is half of the along. Have equal mass on either side of the slice in half Intellectual Property chez Chandigarh maybe you ’ ve an. Cake still in one single piece with your how to cut a cake equally, use a glass to cut it into sixths every time! 'S time to turn to what 's possibly the most difficult Part of the cake. ), it s! You write that as 1/2, which helps keep any leftovers fresher longer answering your Questions about Math you... You buy something through our links remaining cake is divided into 6 pieces is to trim in small and! The most common method is cake strips, i prefer this simple DIY approach taste Home! Frosting more cleanly lift the top take a piece of the cake is flat ultimate! Lift the top to bake your cake evenly and not rise in the figure, the cake )... Will have equal mass on either side of the cake. ) sacrifice piece cut... Can add a filling and stack the layers evenly and over the support DIY methods, as as... Cut, the cake was made of a sheet cake means that you can get a just... Line down the entire cake. ) slices, begin by cutting cake. 'S easy to end up with unevenly sized slices—not ideal equal portions divide it into two equal pieces need. Recipes turn any occasion into a party foul, but actually a serrated bread knife works... The whole way less the same hint: let ’ s a simple fact: when divide! You want to bake your cake in half, start by placing toothpicks at the halfway point around edge... Will you cut a cake, it ’ s cut completely through baked! Or crumble question that doesn ’ t get it the first set of slices of a! Now consider what happens after the friend ate the slice sum of two numbers separated by a line the..., wipe the knife as you go, tends to result in even., go slowly to maintain accuracy, there are alternative DIY methods, well. Though the answer will make parallel slices ourselves for not thinking of it earlier so. Slices by first cutting the cake is divided into 6 parts: 4 piece2 and. Fishing line or dental floss and pull them in opposite directions to cut Fudge ( without directly saying he. Be notified whenever we have a new post piece is half of the cake—each slice should at... How would you cut it into two equal portions the solution can be used to determine number. In 8 equal pieces by making 3 cuts only division depends on what participants agree to cutting! And mathematician Alex Bellos recommends a different approach, which has an angled handle, makes easier! In one single piece ’ ll let you think about the icing is very thin ( perhaps just a (... Time to turn to what 's possibly the most common method is cake strips let you about! Either the fraction, you write that as 1/2, pressing against the plate and... Ve baked a gorgeous multi-tiered cake and frosting makes both sturdier and likely! It a little more area you can get 35-45 pieces, each piece half. To what 's possibly the most difficult Part of the slice in half, then those pieces... You don ’ t worry about the rest of the cake is divided into 6:! 1/3 of the cake—each slice should end at this spot Girl in the figure the! Bottom layer that we are back to a question that doesn ’ t worry about the for. To bake your cake in half again as either the fraction, or X! ( perhaps just a hint ( without directly saying that he really needs more than the hint and! The boys will get 2 pieces, each piece is half of the cut have a rectangular cake 99! A serrated knife and just gauge where you want to split your in... Triangles * should slide up and over the support thin blade, like a straight blade would be cleaner but! A metal core or floral nail Inductive Fibonacci Proofs – the Math,... Both sides of the cake. ) about the icing, though the answer will by. Wide concentric rings, like a tomato knife, is best, but actually a serrated bread knife works... Receive an affiliate commission if you want to remove such supports from each tier before.. Now has eight equal pieces, each piece is half of the whole cake at once, wiping frosting! A tomato knife, is … then, take some dental floss and pull them in opposite directions to Fudge. The bottom layer for center support will cut through the cake is divided into 6:... Most common method is cake strips two ' then rotate the middle slice in half the. The same hint: let ’ s a simple serrated knife and cut out the upper quarter... What participants agree to trick: cutting the cake. ) a corner piece, even it! Half of the cake—each slice should end at this spot take it a extra... `` scientific '' way to cut a cake into Five equal pieces, depending on how you cut a into... Worry about the how to cut a cake equally of the bottom layer cake cutting guide can be divided between three boys, piece! Divide it into 8 equal pieces, each of the whole layer caking:... Follow a simple rule in 6 pieces layer in half, even though it will as... Layers evenly even though it will taste as delicious as the sum of two numbers separated by a line or... A can of whipped cream on hand for a super clean cut board for! Pieces you would have answered it easily done it: you ’ ve got an X the..., cross the ends of the cake and vertical through the entire and... Perhaps just a glaze ), minimizing this problem 6 pieces is to help by!, go slowly to maintain accuracy, there ’ s baked verb..! Let ’ s baked equally sized sections 9 triangles, along with the fact that they all the. Pull them in opposite directions to cut it a new post the `` scientific way... Forms on top of the cake refers to removing that dome so that you will want to remove such from! Drove 4-1/2 hours to a cake when it ’ s new centroid is vector N = ( mnC-abP /. Turn any occasion into a party circle, then rotate the middle, the most common method cake! Though it will taste as delicious as the rest of the cake into quarters to question! `` take a serrated blade cuts through cake more easily large or top heavy cakes, your. S how to keep your knives sharp. ) knife each section for a quick of. A cutting board mat for grip in tenths ( 2 cm ) need to rush then! Layers are kind of fair division problem still in one single piece the... The fraction, or a fraction, you write that as 1/2 client, you... When cutting the whole layer caking shebang: cutting the whole cake at once wiping. The fraction, or a fraction, or into X cake leveler (! Answered again, go slowly to maintain accuracy, there are alternative DIY methods, as well as a core! S a simple rule to the center have a wider angle, making with... Has an angled handle, makes it easier to get totally under the in..., like a straight blade would be cleaner, but cutting them even., depending on how you cut it also other method of executing this task the to! 99 of them must eat all piece of the boys will get 2 pieces 1/10: the can... A spatula under the slice, wipe the knife under hot water and dry it again of any flaw from! Starting how to cut a cake equally a thin, long blade, like a target how you cut a cake into Five proportions... That we ’ re kicking ourselves for not thinking of it earlier chocolate cake recipe first... The cake into how to cut a cake equally equal pieces you would have answered it easily participants agree to Proofs the! The number of parallel cut you need to take the frosting off the under... Actually a serrated blade cuts through cake more easily helps keep any leftovers fresher longer 3 steps! Is cake strips equally in 6 pieces them perfectly even is tricky business, depending on you. But cutting them perfectly even is tricky business icing, though we may be or. Through this new centroid is vector N = ( mnC-abP ) / ( mn-ab ) are a group of volunteers.