Maximum parts formed by 6 chords in a circle

  • Context:
  • Thread starter Thread starter Monoxdifly
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Circle Form parts
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Start your own thread to ask a follow-up.
2 replies · 2K views
Monoxdifly
MHB
Messages
288
Reaction score
0
If a circle has 6 segments, how many maximum parts which can be formed? I know that 1 segment makes 2 parts, 2 segments make 4 parts, and 3 segments makes 7 parts. Judging by the pattern, is the answer 22? What will the exact picture of the circle be? Thank you very much.
 
Mathematics news on Phys.org
Monoxdifly said:
If a circle has 6 segments, how many maximum parts which can be formed? I know that 1 segment makes 2 parts, 2 segments make 4 parts, and 3 segments makes 7 parts. Judging by the pattern, is the answer 22? What will the exact picture of the circle be? Thank you very much.

Looks like this sequence ...

$ 2, 4, 7, 11, 16, 22, ... , \dfrac{n^2+n+2}{2}, ...$
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The maximum number of pizza pieces formula is:

$$\frac{c(c+1)}{2} +1$$

where c is the number of cuts

You'll also notice that;

the maximum number of pieces formula -1 for every number = the triangle numbers

So that's why we add a +1 at the end of the formula

Substituting c for 6 gives us:

$$\frac{42}{2}+1= 21+1=22$$

So yes, you were correct

P.S. Just so you know, you need to cross all the lines with a line to make the largest number of pieces possible, however don't cross a line intersection
 
Last edited: