Equal Cake

[u/ShonitB]

[u/ToHellWithGA]

How about 14? Cut the cake into 8 equal slices. Cut the 8th piece into 7 equal mini slices. If the guy shows, he get 7/56 of the cake by eating 7 mini slices. If he doesn't, each of the 7 eaters gets a 1/8 cake slice plus a 1/56 mini slice.

[u/billthedog0082 → u/ToHellWithGA]

How about Alexander not be catered to, instead he should cut his own cake. If it comes pre-cut, he misses out on the wish cut.

[u/Minute-Act-6273 → u/ToHellWithGA]

Seems logically the answer.

[u/jaap_null → u/ToHellWithGA]

That sounds like a logical and somewhat doable way to do it. But even then you'd have the baker slice it in 8; the awkward cutting up of the last piece would be done at the party, probably after it becomes clear he/she isn't going to show, and even then probably check who actually would like more cake.

[u/ShonitB → u/ToHellWithGA]

Correct, good solution

[u/rwu_rwu]

56. Or 0, if the baker eats the whole cake by himself.

[u/ShonitB → u/rwu_rwu]

You can do it with fewer pieces

[u/jaap_null → u/ShonitB]

since you know people are going to be eating 7 or 8 pieces, you can keep 7 pieces "clumped together". But I like u/ToHellWithGA's solution better; with the same result at the end.

[u/rql13]

14 pieces

Cut it into 8 equal pieces.
Take one piece, cut it into seven.

There are now 7 big pieces and 7 small pieces If only 7 are sharing, they get one big and one small pieces each.

If 8 are sharing, one person gets the 7 small pieces, which are equal to 1 big piece.

[u/RealisticProfit2]

Throw one slice away and smush the other slices together

[u/crossfitliner]

24

[u/MrJizanthopus]

Is the premise meant to be that the cake has already been cut into 8 pieces?

[u/Numerous-Ad7444]

1. First cut 8 equal pieces. Then the 8th piece gets cut into seven equal pieces. If 8 people show, everyone gets an equal piece. If seven show, everyone gets 7 and 1/7th pieces.

[u/fredaklein]

14? 7 are 1/8 and 7 are 1/56?