One straight cut through a thick piece of cheese produces two pieces. Two straight cuts can produce a maximum of four pieces. Three straight cuts can produce a maximum of eight pieces. You might be inclined to think that every additional cut doubles the previous number of pieces. However, for four straight cuts, you will find that you get a maximum of 15 pieces. An nth term formula for the maximum number of pieces, P, that can be produced by n straight cuts is   P(n) =  n3+ 5n + 6 6    (a) Use the given formula to determine the maximum number of pieces that can be produced by five straight cuts.   26 pieces (b) What is the fewest number of straight cuts that you can use if you wish to produce at least 45 pieces? Hint: Use the formula and experiment with larger and larger values of n. _______cuts

Algebra for College Students
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ISBN:9781285195780
Author:Jerome E. Kaufmann, Karen L. Schwitters
Publisher:Jerome E. Kaufmann, Karen L. Schwitters
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One straight cut through a thick piece of cheese produces two pieces. Two straight cuts can produce a maximum of four pieces. Three straight cuts can produce a maximum of eight pieces. You might be inclined to think that every additional cut doubles the previous number of pieces. However, for four straight cuts, you will find that you get a maximum of 15 pieces. An nth term formula for the maximum number of pieces, P, that can be produced by n straight cuts is

 
P(n) = 
n3+ 5n + 6
6
 
 
(a) Use the given formula to determine the maximum number of pieces that can be produced by five straight cuts.
  26 pieces

(b) What is the fewest number of straight cuts that you can use if you wish to produce at least 45 pieces? Hint: Use the formula and experiment with larger and larger values of n.
_______cuts
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