Amaya Hollidays POW #5

Problem Statement:
This problem was asking how many pieces of pie you can make with a certain amount
of slices. The slices dont have to be the same size. You should start by finding
maximum number of pieces with 4 cuts first. Then, work your way up to find the
maximum number of pieces for 10 cuts. Also, you should find a pattern with the answers
you found.
Process:
I started out by drawing a circle to represent a pie then I drew 4 lines( number of cuts)
across the pie. After that, I counted all the pieces of pie. I made multiple different pies
with 4 lines. My first pie I only made 9 pieces. Next, I made another pie and found you
can make an 11 pieces pie with four lines. I was confident that 11 was the most pieces
you could cut. Additionally, I asked Acacia to check my work and she got the 11 slices
too. I then moved to five lines. My first pie with five lines made 15 pieces. I decided to
make more 5-cut pies and I got a 10 piece pie and 16 piece pie. I then knew 16 had to
be the maximum number of pieces. I noticed that there was a pattern. The pattern is the
number of cuts plus the maximum pieces of the one before it. For example, 2 plus 2 is
4. (All of this data can be viewed on my scratch paper.)
Solution:
Number of cuts

Maximum Number of Pieces

11

16

22

29

37

46

10

56

The pattern I found is the number of cuts plus the maximum pieces of the one before it. To

find the maximum number of pieces for 10 cuts you would get 56 because the maximum
number of pieces from the one above it, 46, plus 10 is 56. I used this pattern for all the
answers in the table above. To prove that, I will pick a random amount of cuts, I chose
seven. If I follow the pattern and add 7 and the maximum number of pieces from the
one above it, 22; you get 29. I think this pattern occurs because to find the maximum
number of pieces with a certain amount of cuts you know it will be at least the maximum
number of pieces from the one before it and then the more lines you have the more
pieces can be made. When these two numbers are added together they will then equal
your maximum number of pieces for that amount of cuts.
Evaluation:
I enjoyed this POW because it went with a holiday theme. I think it was the perfect
challenge level. I also enjoyed this POW because the in-and-out table went with the
unit we are studying. If I were going to do this again I would try to use a ruler when
making my lines because they could have been more accurate.