Three students order a pizza that they want to split evenly. They decide to cut it with 2 parallel lines. If pizza has a diameter 18 inches, at what point should they cut it to make sure the three parts are the same size?
To determine where to cut the pizza, we need to divide its circumference into three equal parts. Since the pizza has a diameter of 18 inches, its radius is half of that, which is 9 inches.
The circumference of a circle can be calculated using the formula: C = 2πr, where C is the circumference, π is a mathematical constant approximately equal to 3.14, and r is the radius.
Let's calculate the circumference of the pizza:
C = 2 * 3.14 * 9
C ≈ 56.52 inches
To divide this circumference into three equal parts, we need to find where to place the two parallel lines.
Divide the circumference by 3 to determine the distance between each cut:
56.52 / 3 ≈ 18.84 inches
Starting from any point on the circumference, measure approximately 18.84 inches and make the first cut. Then, starting from that point, measure another 18.84 inches and make the second cut.
The pizza should now be divided into three equal parts.