Math problem

[dcgator]

Math problem: Recipe for cake calls for TWO 9" pans filled with batter. What size pan should I use if I just want one pan of cake?

Trying to keep the amount of ingredients intact. This recipe is from Babbo's Pan di Spagna web site.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

A 9x13 inch pan.

 

[Merlot]

13x9x2-inch cake pan from pan size conversions

 

[CharlieD]

By 9" do you mean round pan, or 9 X 13" pan. If it is the later you can use the full size witch I think is 13 x 18".
Depending on type of the pan there could be problem with the batter being too thick and then it may not bake properly.

 

[roadfix]

You need a single 12" round pan if wer're talking round pans.

 

[dcgator]

Yes 9" round pan. How did you get 12"?

 

[roadfix]

Yes 9" round pan. How did you get 12"?

I still remembered my 10th grade geometry formulas, although I did not take into account volume, but area only. But that should be close enough.

 

[giggler]

I love Math..

but if you make enough batter, then fill your "Nine Inch Pan about 1/2 way full"

then eat the rest of the Raw Batter with your Kids!

Eric, Austin, Tx.

 

[FrankZ]

Or an extra (double) tall 9" round pan.

 

[roadfix]

Or an extra (double) tall 9" round pan.

That would be too easy.....lol..

 

[FrankZ]

We don't always have to make things complicated, some times simple is best.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

Math problem: Recipe for cake calls for TWO 9" pans filled with batter. What size pan should I use if I just want one pan of cake?

Trying to keep the amount of ingredients intact. This recipe is from Babbo's Pan di Spagna web site.

Okay I'll assume this is a serious question, and that it's a math problem. I'll assume you want to keep the height the same too.

The area of a circle is pi times the radius squared = 3.14 * 4.5 * 4.5 = 63.6 square inches, or about 127 square inches to account for the two pans used.

You could use any rectangular pan where the length times the width equals about 127 square inches.

I like Charlie's suggestion of 9"x13" which works out to 117 square inches. It seems counter-intuitive that two 9" rounds would almost fit into a 9"x13" but the additional 4x9 inches plus the part you get squaring the circle is almost enough.

Your cake would be 127/117 taller than each 9" round cake portion, about 9 percent taller. You could make some cupcakes if you want exactly the same height.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

I chose to not think of it as a math problem and just use what I have been taught to substitute in this situation. Since it was not clear if a round or rectangular pan, i chose the path of least resistance, most folks have a 9x13 pan, but not any round pans larger than 9 inches.

Besides, higher math means I have to take my shoes off...

 

[Andy M.]

Yes 9" round pan. How did you get 12"?

One 12" round pan roughly equals 2 9" round pans in area.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

I chose to not think of it as a math problem and just use what I have been taught to substitute in this situation. Since it was not clear if a round or rectangular pan, i chose the path of least resistance, most folks have a 9x13 pan, but not any round pans larger than 9 inches.

Well it took me 10 minutes to math it out, and it took you probably 2-3 seconds to intuit it out, so that tells you which is better.

But what if you wanted a single layer round cake?

Actually I can intuit the answer to that one! You want one that's 1.42 times bigger, about 13 inches diameter. That number is the square root of 2.

ETA: I was writing my reply while Andy posted his (probably intuitive) reply. The exact answer is 12.78 inches. I gotta try that intuitive stuff. It definitely works faster than math.

 

[roadfix]

Besides, higher math means I have to take my shoes off...

 

[Andy M.]

Yes 9" round pan. How did you get 12"?

One 12" round pan roughly equals 2x9" round pans in area.

 

[PrincessFiona60]

Well it took me 10 minutes to math it out, and it took you probably 2-3 seconds to intuit it out, so that tells you which is better.

But what if you wanted a single layer round cake?

Actually I can intuit the answer to that one! You want one that's 1.42 times bigger, about 13 inches diameter. That number is the square root of 2.

ETA: I was writing my reply while Andy posted his (probably intuitive) reply. The exact answer is 12.78 inches. I gotta try that intuitive stuff. It definitely works faster than math.

I am a spatial and creative thinker. I can guesstimate volume, size, etc. Helps in making snap decisions about how much sterile bandaging I need when someone needs to be bandaged.

 

[Greg Who Cooks]

I've always heard it's better to be lucky than to be smart. Unfortunately I wasn't smart enough to have been born with good luck.

I'm usually pretty creative (which is one of the reasons I like cooking) but my creativeness has been on the blink lately. At least math always works.

 

[dcgator]

Thanks folks. Technically it should be about Square root of (2 x Height of new pan/Height of old pan). I don't think they sell 13" pans, so will try the 12" and report back!!!!