A Cake Decorator Using Algebraic Equations And Pi? Holy Cow!

Decorating By CakeDiva73 Updated 17 Jul 2007 , 4:10pm by chelleb1974

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CakeDiva73 Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 5:04am
post #1 of 12

Well, thought you would all appreciate this.....as I sit here trying to figure out my prices for cakes, I am actually sitting using algebra and Pi to figure out the overall cost per surface area inch to compare each price and see if they are consistent......and sobbing quietly, did I mention that part??? I hate math.....I flunked Algebra & Geometry and had to go so summer school *sigh*

So I figure the next time anyones kids EVER say, "Mom, when will I ever use Algebra?" you can be sure to tell them that cake decorators use Pi all the time! icon_biggrin.gif Granted, I am slightly woozy from all the math and Skittles but oh well........

11 replies
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CakeDiva73 Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 5:25am
post #2 of 12

.....and yes, I totally had to 'Google' how to get the area of a circle, as well as what Pi was. Lord help me, no wonder I am no help to my kid's when they have math homework. icon_rolleyes.gif

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chefcindy Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 5:29am
post #3 of 12

I had to call alicegop to find out the formula to figure out how much ribbon I needed for a wedding cake.... I could have just measured, but I didn't want to get out my pans...Thanks Alice!! icon_wink.gif

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lilypie Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 5:33am
post #4 of 12

i usually just call my brother, who is an engineer... I tell him "i dont wanna think! you do it! Just tell me the answer!"

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MissRobin Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 3:09pm
post #5 of 12

I have enlisted my DH help numerous times when calculating areas of circles and such, I too hate math, and probably didn't pay attention in class!!! Had better things to do! Ha!

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indydebi Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 3:25pm
post #6 of 12

Ok, I must be really smart or really stupid because this has never ever come up in my cake lifetime! dunce.gif

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lanibird Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 3:34pm
post #7 of 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by CakeDiva73

I am actually sitting using algebra and Pi to figure out the overall cost per surface area inch to compare each price and see if they are consistent




Now that's what I call commitment! icon_lol.gif

I'm a few years from selling, though when I do, if I cannot figure it out using the calculator on my computer (you know, the one in Accessories icon_wink.gif ), then I'm finding another way to figure out my prices! icon_lol.gif

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leily Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 5:33pm
post #8 of 12

I am a math person and did all of my servings using geometry and with the help of autoCad.

I also lay out a lot of my cakes in AutoCad or to scale using geometry to to a layout of it. So I can see what it looks like and move the placment of each around. But then again, I am a math person and love to do layouts (that is why I am going through a sheetmetal apprenticeship and doing fabrication though)

I have proven to my cousins though that you actually can use this stuff again.

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ljudd1969 Posted 16 Jul 2007 , 5:39pm
post #9 of 12

OK, I'm feeling pretty much like a doofus right now!! The only math I use is when I measure my ingredients and sometimes I can't even get that right! icon_surprised.gif

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VACakelady Posted 17 Jul 2007 , 10:49am
post #10 of 12

Yep, I did the same thing when I started. I remember figuring the volume of a cylinder for round cakes to determine servings and pricing. You just never know where math is going to pop up. Good thing I like math.

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MariaLovesCakes Posted 17 Jul 2007 , 1:59pm
post #11 of 12

Wow! I just make a drawing of the size of the circle or square of the cake and then divide slices with a ruler! That's it.

Ah, and by the way Algebra was my favorite math subject! icon_biggrin.gif

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chelleb1974 Posted 17 Jul 2007 , 4:10pm
post #12 of 12

I did this when figuring out how much fondant I needed for all the cake pans I have!! I use Satin Ice and they give oz. on their website for some sizes of cakes, and I figured it all out from there!

I also use Powerpoint to print out scaled drawings of the different sizes of cakes to make it easier to visualize what they will look like!

~Chelle
P.S. Math was my best and favorite subject.....got a 720 out of 800 on my math SATs!

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