can someone help me solve this math puzzle?

[zleppelin]

You and a friend are about to eat a pizza. You know that it always takes you x seconds to eat a unit of pizza, and you know it takes your friend y seconds. Once the pizza is cut, you will both start eating at the same time. Each person can eat only one slice at a time. You cannot touch the next piece until you finish the one you're eating. Out of generosity, you have agreed in advance to allow your friend to have the last slice if you should both happen to reach for it at the same time. Assuming that you would like as much of the pizza as possible to end up in your stomach, into how many equal-sized slices should you cut the pizza?


I know the answer. But I won't post it here.

 

[Que-Ever]

4.

 

[The Monkey]

3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939937510

 

[Dan]

depends if x is bigger than y. If it is then you cut it into 2 and get 1/2. If x is less than y you cut it into 3 so that you get 2/3. This is assuming that neither of you can eat twice as fast as the other.

 

[myth]

2

 

[zleppelin]

If x is less than y you cut it into 3 so that you get 2/3. This is assuming that neither of you can eat twice as fast as the other.

So if x is 1 and y is 3. That is, if I gorge three slices of pizza in the amount of time it takes you to eat only one (neither is eating twice as fast at the other)... Then why would I want to cut the pizza into 3 slices? I would get 67%, but if I cut it into 4 parts I'd get 75%. Please clarify?!?!

 

[tehsolace]

*punches you in the face*

 

[Dan]

So if x is 1 and y is 3. That is, if I gorge three slices of pizza in the amount of time it takes you to eat only one (neither is eating twice as fast at the other)... Then why would I want to cut the pizza into 3 slices? I would get 67%, but if I cut it into 4 parts I'd get 75%. Please clarify?!?!

I said that is if neither can eat twice as fast as the other. If you can eat a pizza 3 times as fast as someone then you can clearly eat it twice as fast. double was just the minimum criteria. 3 is obviously more than double 1. I would assume that you and your friend both operate on the same level of timescale

 

[zleppelin]

I said that is if neither can eat twice as fast as the other. If you can eat a pizza 3 times as fast as someone then you can clearly eat it twice as fast. double was just the minimum criteria. 3 is obviously more than double 1. I would assume that you and your friend both operate on the same level of timescale

I bet most people could eat twice as fast if they wanted to. So what's stopping the slower eater from eating faster??

 

[MiccyNarc]

too many variables

 

[Crazy Horse]

2

 

[AKIRA]

What size is this pizza??? I'd assume that'd make a difference.

 

[Crazy Horse]

What size is this pizza??? I'd assume that'd make a difference.

It's the size of the universe... therefore the answer is undefined.

 

[Krynn72]

Like Myth and Crazy Horse said.... 2. You both get half, and it doesnt matter how fast you eat, since you both start at the same time.

 

[Dan]

2 slices would work if you ate slower than your buddy, but if you ate faster than your friend and you chopped it into a million tiny slices then you would get more than your friend. It depends on the ratio of x to y.

 

[Stigmata]

Don't cut it. You both reach for the last "slice" i.e. the entire pizza, and due to the agreement, your friend gives it to you.

 

[Krynn72]

Don't cut it. You both reach for the last "slice" i.e. the entire pizza, and due to the agreement, you give it to your friend.

Fixed