pieces of a circular pie

BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

This topic has expert replies

Post new topic Post Reply

Previous Topic Next Topic

arora007: Community Manager; Posts: 1048; Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:26 am; Location: India; Thanked: 51 times; Followed by:27 members; GMAT Score:670

pieces of a circular pie

by arora007 » Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:44 am

What is the maximum number of pieces that a circular pie can be divided into using four linear cuts?

a) 6
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
e) 11

[spoiler]OA is E and i cannot believe it... oh boy!! what a problem to get as the 2nd problem of a test?
i could not visualize till i saw the figure though...
https://gmatclub.com/forum/maximum-numbe ... 79-20.html
[/spoiler]

gmatclub test problem

https://www.skiponemeal.org/
https://twitter.com/skiponemeal
Few things are impossible to diligence & skill.Great works are performed not by strength,but by perseverance

pm me if you find junk/spam/abusive language, Lets keep our community clean!!

Quote

Source: Beat The GMAT — Problem Solving | Wed Jul 07, 2010 12:44 am

gmatmachoman: Legendary Member; Posts: 2326; Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2008 3:54 am; Thanked: 173 times; Followed by:2 members; GMAT Score:710

by gmatmachoman » Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:01 am

yeah... look at my ameatur mspaint dwg..

Is there any mathematical logic?

Attachments

R&D on GMAT algorithm:

https://www.beatthegmat.com/r-d-on-gmat- ... tml#305739

Quote

kvcpk: Legendary Member; Posts: 1893; Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 11:48 pm; Thanked: 215 times; Followed by:7 members

by kvcpk » Wed Jul 07, 2010 1:16 am

Here is the answer.. With great difficulty I was able to put it on paint

Quote

arora007: Community Manager; Posts: 1048; Joined: Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:26 am; Location: India; Thanked: 51 times; Followed by:27 members; GMAT Score:670

by arora007 » Wed Jul 07, 2010 10:47 am

even i would like to know if there is some mathematical logic...there must be!

Quote

GMATGuruNY: GMAT Instructor; Posts: 15539; Joined: Tue May 25, 2010 12:04 pm; Location: New York, NY; Thanked: 13060 times; Followed by:1906 members; GMAT Score:790

by GMATGuruNY » Wed Jul 07, 2010 3:31 pm

arora007 wrote:What is the maximum number of pieces that a circular pie can be divided into using four linear cuts?

a) 6
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
e) 11

[spoiler]OA is E and i cannot believe it... oh boy!! what a problem to get as the 2nd problem of a test?
i could not visualize till i saw the figure though...
https://gmatclub.com/forum/maximum-numbe ... 79-20.html
[/spoiler]

gmatclub test problem

There is a pattern:

We start off with 1 piece of pie.

Draw the 1st line, you add 1 more piece to the pie for a total of 2 pieces.
Draw the 2nd line, you add 2 more pieces to the pie for a total of 4 pieces.
Draw the 3rd line, you add 3 more pieces to the pie for a total of 7 pieces.
Draw the 4th line, you add 4 more pieces to the pie for a total of 11 pieces.

So the nth line will always add n more pieces to the pie.

A 5th line would give us 11 + 5 = 16 pieces.
A 6th line would give us 16 + 6 = 22 pieces.

Pretty neat!

Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3

Quote

kvcpk: Legendary Member; Posts: 1893; Joined: Sun May 30, 2010 11:48 pm; Thanked: 215 times; Followed by:7 members

by kvcpk » Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:19 pm

GMATGuruNY wrote:
arora007 wrote:What is the maximum number of pieces that a circular pie can be divided into using four linear cuts?

a) 6
b) 8
c) 9
d) 10
e) 11

[spoiler]OA is E and i cannot believe it... oh boy!! what a problem to get as the 2nd problem of a test?
i could not visualize till i saw the figure though...
https://gmatclub.com/forum/maximum-numbe ... 79-20.html
[/spoiler]

gmatclub test problem
There is a pattern:

We start off with 1 piece of pie.

Draw the 1st line, you add 1 more piece to the pie for a total of 2 pieces.
Draw the 2nd line, you add 2 more pieces to the pie for a total of 4 pieces.
Draw the 3rd line, you add 3 more pieces to the pie for a total of 7 pieces.
Draw the 4th line, you add 4 more pieces to the pie for a total of 11 pieces.

So the nth line will always add n more pieces to the pie.

A 5th line would give us 11 + 5 = 16 pieces.
A 6th line would give us 16 + 6 = 22 pieces.

Pretty neat!

Wow!! Thats Awesome!!