Middlebury College Math Circus

Middlebury College Math Circus with Pete Schumer, Baldwin Professor of Mathematics & Natural Philosophy

What’s the largest number of pieces of pizza obtainable with n straight cuts? If n points are chosen on the circumference of a pizza, what is the number of pieces created by slicing between every pair of them? if you pick any point in the interior of the pizza and then cut four long slices with all interior angles 45 degrees, can two people share the pizza equitably? In each problem, of course the sizes and shapes of the pieces will vary greatly and most of them will not look very appetizing! Solutions to these problems will be offered and discussed. Come join us!