Question

if it takes 40 seconds to cut a 10-inch by 10 inch square cake into 2 inch by 2 inch pieces, how many seconds will it take to cut a 12 inch by 12 inch square cake into 2 inch by 2 inch pieces

Answer 1

The 10x10 cake is 5x5 pieces, so it takes 4+4=8 cuts to do the job.

That is 5 seconds per cut.

The 12x12 cake is 6x6 pieces, so it will take 5+5=10 cuts, or 50 seconds.

Assuming a 12" cut can be made in the same time as a 10" cut!