Blog

Difficulty: Fun

Kim has a big round cheese, and an even bigger knife.

With three straight cuts, what’s the largest number of pieces she can cut?

Need a hint?

You can draw the cheese as a circle on your paper, but remember the actual cheese is 3D.

Brainteaser answer

With three cuts through the centre, Kim could cut six wedges.

Being a bit trickier, she could cut it into quarters with two cuts, and make a slanting third cut not through the centre. This would make seven pieces.

For the ultimate in cheesy cutting, she could use two cuts to make four quarters, and a third cut through the side of the cheese, cutting each quarter in half and giving eight pieces of cheese.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

By submitting this form, you give CSIRO permission to publish your comments on our websites. Please make sure the comments are your own. For more information please see our terms and conditions.

Why choose the Double Helix magazine for your students?

Perfect for ages 8 – 14

Developed by experienced editors

Engaging and motivating

*84% of readers are more interested in science

Engaging students voice