Can You Cut a Cake into 8 Equal Pieces with Just 3 Cuts? Try This Viral Brain Teaser!

Engaging in brain teasers and puzzles is believed to provide numerous advantages for cognitive well-being. These activities are beneficial for both children and adults, offering a refreshing alternative to conventional learning approaches.

A new brain teaser has gone viral on the internet which is about cutting a cake into equal pieces. To successfully accomplish this task, one must demonstrate exceptional ingenuity. The challenge is to divide a circular cake into eight equal portions using just three cuts.

A brain teaser has been shared on Threads by @ellis_puzzles that puts your skills to the test. This puzzle encourages you to approach the problem from a different perspective and discover a solution that may not be immediately apparent.

This brain teaser may seem simple initially, but as you begin to consider how to solve it, it becomes increasingly challenging.

The Puzzle

There are 7 people at your birthday party. How can you divide a round cake for 8 people (including you) making only 3 cuts?

You possess a round cake that requires division into eight equal portions, but you are limited to making only three cuts. The task at hand is to determine a method for slicing the cake so that all pieces are of equal size while adhering to the restriction of three cuts.

View on Threads

This brain teaser has ignited a lively discussion on Threads. Participants are sharing their answers and insights, yet each person appears to have a unique perspective.

One solution shared by a user reads, “3 vertical cuts, one radial cut, and then two diameter cuts in 2 opposite directions”. Yet another solution that appeared below the post is, “ Split in half, so you have 2 thinner cakes, stack it together and cut it 2 times with + or × shape”. “1 cut from the side through the middle, then 2 cuts from the top. 1 vertical through the middle and 1 horizontal through the middle,” is yet another comment.

The Solution

Slice the cake into four equal parts by making two cuts—one horizontally through the center and the other vertically through the center. This will result in four distinct pieces of cake.Arrange all four pieces into a stack that stands four pieces tall.

For the final step, simply slice that stack in half with your last cut, resulting in a total of eight pieces of cake!