We a good story
Quick delivery in the UK

Mathematical Muffin Morsels: Nobody Wants A Small Piece

About Mathematical Muffin Morsels: Nobody Wants A Small Piece

Suppose you have five muffins that you want to divide and give to Alice, Bob, and Carol. You want each of them to get 5/3. You could cut each muffin into 1/3-1/3-1/3 and give each student five 1/3-sized pieces. But Alice objects! She has large hands! She wants everyone to have pieces larger than 1/3. Is there a way to divide five muffins for three students so that everyone gets 5/3, and all pieces are larger than 1/3? Spoiler alert: Yes! In fact, there is a division where the smallest piece is 5/12. Is there a better division? Spoiler alert: No. In this book we consider THE MUFFIN PROBLEM: what is the best way to divide up m muffins for s students so that everyone gets m/s muffins, with the smallest pieces maximized. We look at both procedures for the problem and proofs that these procedures are optimal. This problem takes us through much mathematics of interest, for example, combinatorics and optimization theory. However, the math is elementary enough for an advanced high school student.

Show more
  • Language:
  • English
  • ISBN:
  • 9789811215179
  • Binding:
  • Hardback
  • Pages:
  • 228
  • Published:
  • June 17, 2020
  • Dimensions:
  • 237x158x19 mm.
  • Weight:
  • 476 g.
Delivery: 2-4 weeks
Expected delivery: January 25, 2025
Extended return policy to January 30, 2025
  •  

    Cannot be delivered before Christmas.
    Buy now and print a gift certificate

Description of Mathematical Muffin Morsels: Nobody Wants A Small Piece

Suppose you have five muffins that you want to divide and give to Alice, Bob, and Carol. You want each of them to get 5/3. You could cut each muffin into 1/3-1/3-1/3 and give each student five 1/3-sized pieces. But Alice objects! She has large hands! She wants everyone to have pieces larger than 1/3.
Is there a way to divide five muffins for three students so that everyone gets 5/3, and all pieces are larger than 1/3? Spoiler alert: Yes! In fact, there is a division where the smallest piece is 5/12. Is there a better division? Spoiler alert: No.
In this book we consider THE MUFFIN PROBLEM: what is the best way to divide up m muffins for s students so that everyone gets m/s muffins, with the smallest pieces maximized. We look at both procedures for the problem and proofs that these procedures are optimal.
This problem takes us through much mathematics of interest, for example, combinatorics and optimization theory. However, the math is elementary enough for an advanced high school student.

User ratings of Mathematical Muffin Morsels: Nobody Wants A Small Piece



Find similar books
The book Mathematical Muffin Morsels: Nobody Wants A Small Piece can be found in the following categories:

Join thousands of book lovers

Sign up to our newsletter and receive discounts and inspiration for your next reading experience.