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  4. How many cuts do you need to cut something in zero pieces?

How many cuts do you need to cut something in zero pieces?

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  • L Offline
    L Offline
    Lost User
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    It's not 42, you'd have at least 43 pieces.

    L K 2 Replies Last reply
    0
    • L Lost User

      It's not 42, you'd have at least 43 pieces.

      L Offline
      L Offline
      Lost User
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      (The number of cuts required to cut something into a negative number of pieces) - 1

      L 1 Reply Last reply
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      • L Lost User

        (The number of cuts required to cut something into a negative number of pieces) - 1

        L Offline
        L Offline
        Lost User
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Wouldn't you need one more cut, instead of one less?

        L 1 Reply Last reply
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        • L Lost User

          Wouldn't you need one more cut, instead of one less?

          L Offline
          L Offline
          Lost User
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          harold aptroot wrote:

          Wouldn't you need one more cut, instead of one less?

          No.

          L 1 Reply Last reply
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          • L Lost User

            harold aptroot wrote:

            Wouldn't you need one more cut, instead of one less?

            No.

            L Offline
            L Offline
            Lost User
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            So, explain your logic?

            L 1 Reply Last reply
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            • L Lost User

              It's not 42, you'd have at least 43 pieces.

              K Offline
              K Offline
              Keith Barrow
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              -1. 3 cuts = 4 peices 2 cuts = 3 pieces 1 cut = 2 pieces 0 cuts = 1 piece -1 cuts = 0 pieces [edit] That joke has been tried . Pants. How about i/j no reasoning, but hyperspace probably works somehow.

              Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
              -Or-A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^]

              D L 2 Replies Last reply
              0
              • K Keith Barrow

                -1. 3 cuts = 4 peices 2 cuts = 3 pieces 1 cut = 2 pieces 0 cuts = 1 piece -1 cuts = 0 pieces [edit] That joke has been tried . Pants. How about i/j no reasoning, but hyperspace probably works somehow.

                Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
                -Or-A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^]

                D Offline
                D Offline
                Dalek Dave
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                I saw a pron film in zero pieces, it said it was uncut.

                ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC League Table Link CCC Link[^]

                J 1 Reply Last reply
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                • L Lost User

                  So, explain your logic?

                  L Offline
                  L Offline
                  Lost User
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  I believe my answer to be the one true answer.

                  L 1 Reply Last reply
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                  • D Dalek Dave

                    I saw a pron film in zero pieces, it said it was uncut.

                    ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave CCC League Table Link CCC Link[^]

                    J Offline
                    J Offline
                    Joe Simes
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    I hold your reasoning circumcised circumspect! Yikes I don't think I liked that I used the word hold in this circumstance. :omg:

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                    • K Keith Barrow

                      -1. 3 cuts = 4 peices 2 cuts = 3 pieces 1 cut = 2 pieces 0 cuts = 1 piece -1 cuts = 0 pieces [edit] That joke has been tried . Pants. How about i/j no reasoning, but hyperspace probably works somehow.

                      Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
                      -Or-A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^]

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      I can get 4 pieces with 2 cuts, and 7 pieces with 3 cuts Are you still sure it's linear like that? How do you know you don't get half a piece with -1 cuts?

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                      • L Lost User

                        I can get 4 pieces with 2 cuts, and 7 pieces with 3 cuts Are you still sure it's linear like that? How do you know you don't get half a piece with -1 cuts?

                        K Offline
                        K Offline
                        Keith Barrow
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Depends how you place the cut doesn't it. The way I'm cutting (right across the centre) -1 will work :-). I like your original question BTW, I guess I like absurdist reasoning. Quasi Philosophical Answers (with a matrix style answer): You could cut it using n/2 cuts, where n is the number of molecules in the paper. Break it down into molecules, you don't have any paper anymore so you have zero pieces of paper (but lots of molecules). Another answer would be to re-define a "peice of paper cut by Harold Aptroot" as something else and no longer a piece of paper, say a "Sunderharold": 1 cut Burn the paper: it's no longer paper (again): Zero cuts. First you have to realise there is no paper: Zero Cuts Quasi Mathematical Answers (one in the style of Douglas Adams): Another answer is to define Zero = 1: zero cuts, (or Zero=2 min 1 Cut), or we could start with a Zero-indexed system. How about forming a mobius strip, it's two dimensional and can't therefore can't possibly exist in the 3d space (ignoring time) in front of us. We therefore have zero pieces of paper . Oh and magnets are just magic :-) I must stop avoiding work...........

                        Sort of a cross between Lawrence of Arabia and Dilbert.[^]
                        -Or-A Dead ringer for Kate Winslett[^]

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                        • L Lost User

                          I believe my answer to be the one true answer.

                          L Offline
                          L Offline
                          LloydA111
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Thats hardly explaining ANY logic.


                          See if you can crack this: fb29a481781fe9b3fb8de57cda45fbef

                          The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                          L 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • L LloydA111

                            Thats hardly explaining ANY logic.


                            See if you can crack this: fb29a481781fe9b3fb8de57cda45fbef

                            The unofficial awesome history of Code Project's Bob! "People demand freedom of speech to make up for the freedom of thought which they avoid."

                            L Offline
                            L Offline
                            Lost User
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Lloyd Atkinson wrote:

                            Thats hardly explaining ANY logic.

                            :rolleyes:

                            1 Reply Last reply
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