Pizza cut
Using only six straight cuts, find a way to make as many pieces of
pizza as possible. (The pieces can be different sizes and shapes).
Age
7 to 11
Challenge level
Problem
Using only six straight cuts, find a way to make as many pieces of pizza as possible.
(The pieces can be different sizes and shapes).
Image
Getting Started
Student Solutions
There are lots of answers to this problem, depending on what questions you choose to ask. Have a go yourself, and if you discover anything interesting, e-mail us to tell us what you've done!
Please don't worry that your solution is not "complete" - we'd like to hear about anything you have tried. Teachers - you might like to send in a summary of your children's work.
Please don't worry that your solution is not "complete" - we'd like to hear about anything you have tried. Teachers - you might like to send in a summary of your children's work.
Teachers' Resources
Pizza Cut
Using only six straight cuts, find a way to make as many pieces of pizza as possible.
(The pieces can be different sizes and shapes).
Image
Why do this problem?
This activity offers an opportunity for pupils to explore geometry and arithmetic in a simple and appealing way. It also has potential to be opened out by the pupils asking "I wonder what would happen if I ...?"
Possible approach
It would be good to start off with an example done as a whole group together. You could have a circle drawn on the interactive whiteboard, or ordinary board, and start with just three cuts, then build up to more. Encourage children to articulate their strategy for maximising the number of pieces.
Key questions
Did you find a good way of doing this?
Tell me what you have done.
Can you get more pieces by cutting in a different way?
Possible extension
Some learners can take this further by looking at a whole series of different numbers of cuts.
Possible support
It will be useful for pupils to have something that they can "cut up", such as discs of paper or card, or you could print this sheet of circles for them to draw in the lines.