You have a 4-inch square piece of cake and 3 children.?

Question

What math operation is needed to determine how much each child receives?

Answer 1

when you have scale, weigh and slice it equally, but I bet this is not the answer you want.
So mathematically, devide the cake by 4, each child get 1 sq inch of cake, and devide again the rest by 4 and give 1/4 sq inch each child and you still have a rest of 1/4sq inch. Then devide this 1/4 by 4 and give each child 1/16 and so on until you can not devide the rest of the cake anymore (infinity)
k = 1+sigma(1/4)^n n=1 till infinity
k = 1.333333333333

Answer 2

I'd divide it in half and tell the neighbor's kid to hit the road Jack!

Or each slice could be 4 inches long and 1 and 1/3 inches wide. That's about the size of a normal slice of cake.

Answer 3

Division

4"x4" = 16 square "

16 square " divided by 4 children = 4 squre inches each

4square inches = 2"x2"

each child gets a 2"x2" square piece of cake

Answer 4

Cut into 4 1-inch pieces and tell the kids that its a petit four.

Answer 5

This is a Time-Rate-Distance problem

Whenever dessert is available, the life expectancy of the dessert is directly proportionate to the time that it sits out, the distance from hungry siblings, and the rate of the fork/spoon/hand or other tool if used.
T= r/d
and R = d/t
D = r x t

Answer 6

4x4 = 16 in² of cake
16/3 = your answer

Answer 7

strongest kid gets it so it would be a ratio operation