11/04/2026

20. Pizza

The beach is a good place to reflect. A parasol reminded me of an elementary geometry theorem that proves the equality of two areas obtained by properly partitioning a circle: the pizza theorem, if a circular pizza is divided into 8, 12, 16, ... slices by making equiangular cuts, the sum of the areas of the even slices is equal to that of the remaining odd slices.


First Theorem. If two people cut a pizza into 4n + 4 equiangular sectors (with whole n greater than zero), centered at any point, and take turns taking a slice each, walking the pizza clockwise or counterclockwise, both will eat the same amount. In addition, sectors can also be grouped into n+1 equivalent in area sets. So, e.g. a pizza cut into 8 slices can be divided equally between 2 people, one divided into 12 slices between 3 and one divided into 20 between 5.   



Now let's look at some other theorems (to be taken more or less seriously ...).


Second Theorem. The total area of the green slices is equal to that of the red slices (regardless of where P is placed). In this case, it is not the corner in the center, but the edge of each slice that is kept constant. Note: it is easy to verify that the same theorem applies to the figure on the right, which shows a regular polygon instead of a circle, but in this case the proof is simpler.





Third theorem. If you divide the pizza into 6 parts (60-degree angles), the following equality always applies:



Fourth theorem. The Pythagorean theorem also applies to pizza: the area of the pizza built on the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the areas of the pizzas built on the catheti:



Fifth Theorem. Indicating with Pi the well-known 3.14, the volume of a pizza with radius z and thickness a is given by the expression: 

Pi x z x z x a


Sixth Theorem. You can divide a square pizza equally between two people by cutting it four times: vertical, horizontal and diagonal cut (at 45 degrees) by placing the crossing point anywhere within the square:




In addition to these theorems, other considerations apply that you can find in the references below.


Pizza theorem - Wikipedia

Square Pizza | NRICH

QuantumV4N3.pdf

Pizza Theorem -- from Wolfram MathWorld

The Pizza Theorem. After a boring working day, you can’t… | by Zeddy | Medium

geometry - Proof of the Pizza Theorem - Mathematics Stack Exchange

 

10/04/2026

19. Harmonic shapes - crinkle crankle wall

When we think of a wall, the first thing that comes to mind is a brick construction that is as straight as possible. It is known that the straight line is the minimum path between 2 points; so, you decide the extremes, you plant 2 stakes, you pull a rope and you start building.

In the county of Suffolk, UK, there is also another example of a wall:


The crinkle crankle wall dates to Ancient Egypt and, among other things, saves bricks.

It has a sinusoidal shape that provides stability to the structure without the use of pillars or buttresses at regular distances.

For the same height, the number of bricks used in the wall is proportional to the product of its length and its thickness. Suppose that the wall has a sinusoidal shape and consider a section of wall 2π long. If the wall has the form of the function sin(x), then the length of this curve is found by calculating the following integral: 

If A = 0 we have a straight line, i.e. a flat wall with length 2π = 6.2832, while if A = 1 the integral is 7.6404; their ratio is worth about 1.22, i.e. 22% more.

But the sinusoidal shape considerably strengthens the wall and therefore allows you to use only one row of bricks instead of 2, halving its thickness, i.e. 122% long and 50% wide, in total only 61% of bricks are used.

As long as the value is less than 100% you will save material.

But for what value of amplitude A do we have 100% (i.e. the same number of bricks)?

With A = 2.6 the length is about 6.2822 (almost 2π)


A = 1 (in red)   -   A = 2.6 (in blue)

  

If you are interested, below you can find a nice list of "crinkle crankle walls" with photos:


Crinkle-Crankle Walls Of Suffolk : EDitorial 4-Jan-2016


Crinkle crankle wall - Wikipedia


Crinkle-Crankle Wall, Reclaimed Bricks in Ipswich | RBC – Reclaimed Brick Company

Crinkle crankle wall calculus

Crinkle crankle wall, Fulbourn © Bob Jones :: Geograph Britain and Ireland

Easton - Google Maps

Out and about looking at Crinkle Crankle Walls / Historical Association

Slangenmuur - Wikipedia

This Wall Uses Fewer Bricks Than A Straight Wall