Better value: Medium pizza for $7, large for $8.50, or XL for $9.50?

[JEDI]

3toppings

medium = 12" pie
large = 14" pie
XL = 16" pie

area = π * R squared

medium = 3.14 * 36 = 113 sq inches
large = 3.14 * 49 = 154
XL = 3.14 * 64 = 201

medium = 6.2 cents per sq inch
large = 5.5 cents
XL = 4.7 cents

Looks like XL is best bang for the buck?

wowzers.. XL has almost twice the surface area than medium.

 

[SSSnail]

Yeah, but you forgot to calculate the ratio of toppings. XL doesn't come with XL toppings.

 

[Baked]

Math hurts my head. I just get 2x medium usually. I eat half of each one meal, then finish the rest on next meal.

 

[Chaotic42]

That works out if the amount of toppings increases linearly with radius and the height doesn't vary. I would assume neither of those. Unfortunately your only real solution is to buy one of each and weigh them. Preferably purchase several throughout the year and take note of the weight of each so that you can perform a statistical analysis.

JEDI, you must eat as much pizza as possible... for science.

 

[DrPizza]

Is it weird that while my wife was shopping for patio umbrellas, I was doing the exact same type of analysis? Though, in my case, I understood that using a value for pi, rather than just the symbol in my head, was unnecessary in making a comparison. That is, 4pi is 1/3 the size of 12pi.

So, 7 foot umbrella was 12.25pi square feet, 9 foot umbrella was 20.25 square feet. So, 8pi/12.25pi is the same as 8/12.25, or 32/49. So, I can shade an approximately 64% larger area for only a 25% increase in price.

 

[zerocool84]

Most food places you go to, it's always cheaper per ounce to get the largest size available.

 

[tynopik]

if it has a crust and you consider the crust to be a 'worthless' part of the pizza, you also have to account for it

for instance if the crust is 1" across on all pizzas, the adjusted value of 'good pizza' are
medium = 10" = 78.5 sq in
large = 12" = 113 sq in
XL = 14" = 154 sq in

without a crust, the XL is 78% larger
with a crust, the good area of the XL is 96% larger

 

[JEDI]

Yeah, but you forgot to calculate the ratio of toppings. XL doesn't come with XL toppings.

so for XL, the employees just use the same portions as the large?
(large is probably their default/most sold size.)

if it has a crust and you consider the crust to be a 'worthless' part of the pizza, you also have to account for it

for instance if the crust is 1" across on all pizzas, the adjusted value of 'good pizza' are
medium = 10" = 78.5 sq in
large = 12" = 113 sq in
XL = 14" = 154 sq in

without a crust, the XL is 78% larger
with a crust, the good area of the XL is 96% larger

ahh.. yes, crust = worthless. so that rules out the medium.


so if topping amount is the same between large and XL, then it's a no brainer to order the large?
and the chain is PapaJohns

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Yeah, but I just buy medium pizzas now. I can't eat like I'm in college anymore.

 

[CA19100]

if it has a crust and you consider the crust to be a 'worthless' part of the pizza, you also have to account for it

If you consider your crust worthless, you need to find a better pizza joint!

 

[tynopik]

Yeah, but I just buy medium pizzas now. I can't eat like I'm in college anymore.

pizzas refrigerate well

just eat what you want and save the rest for later

 

[Ken g6]

pizzas refrigerate well

just eat what you want and save the rest for later

At least Pizza Hut pizzas even freeze well. With the possible rec'd exception of pineapple.

 

[ElFenix]

3toppings

medium = 12" pie
large = 14" pie
XL = 16" pie

area = π * R squared

medium = 3.14 * 36 = 113 sq inches
large = 3.14 * 49 = 154
XL = 3.14 * 64 = 201

medium = 6.2 cents per sq inch
large = 5.5 cents
XL = 4.7 cents

Looks like XL is best bang for the buck?

wowzers.. XL has almost twice the surface area than medium.

a 14" is a medium pizza. don't buy into the lie that dominos, pizza hut, and papa johns have created.

 

[syd2oo2]

Actually for me smallest would be best. You get less pizza, but you also get fewer calories to work off or get fat from. Just my perspective. I never go for large anything.

 

[uclaLabrat]

Actually for me smallest would be best. You get less pizza, but you also get fewer calories to work off or get fat from. Just my perspective. I never go for large anything.

You can do that by just....eating less.

 

[natto fire]

If you consider your crust worthless, you need to find a better pizza joint!

so if topping amount is the same between large and XL, then it's a no brainer to order the large?
and the chain is PapaJohns

Indeed. I agree with the mass argument as well. When I order pizza I eat every part of it though, and at least PapaJohns includes those pepperoncinis which are great to eat with the crust and garlic sauce.

Not sure on the toppings, but I have a feeling it varies from shop to shop, even in the same chain. I know lots of places around here do not simply spread out more toppings on a larger pie, but again there are many pizza places around here even excluding chains.

 

[Caveman]

2 characters

 

[Caveman]

You can do that by just....eating less.

Agreed, I've always thought that was such a crazy thing for people to do... just get the best deal AND save he rest for little snacks later. 2 birds with 1 stone...

 

[rh71]

blah blah is cheaper by $0.30! And then you go and spend $2.25 at the ice cream truck when you could've gotten 20 of them for $3.

Or you buy a pack of smokes.

Or you buy beer that you're just gonna piss away!

 

[Hugh Jass]

so for XL, the employees just use the same portions as the large?

No...they use the same sized toppings is what I assume the other poster meant...meaning they don't use super sized slices of pepperoni as opposed to regular sized slices and whatnot.

They use more toppings on an XL as opposed to a large or medium because they cover it same as they would other sizes...so with it being a larger pizza it stands to reason there are more toppings on it by comparison.

 

[bigpimpatl]

You can do that by just....eating less.

Do you think a large pizza has the same amount of calories as a small?

Or are you advocating a person eat pizza for a whole week just because it's "efficient" right now?

save he rest for little snacks later.

and wtf kind of a small snack is having pizza...Nuts or granola bars or juice is a little snack not a slice of pizza.

 

[sdifox]

Is it weird that while my wife was shopping for patio umbrellas, I was doing the exact same type of analysis? Though, in my case, I understood that using a value for pi, rather than just the symbol in my head, was unnecessary in making a comparison. That is, 4pi is 1/3 the size of 12pi.

So, 7 foot umbrella was 12.25pi square feet, 9 foot umbrella was 20.25 square feet. So, 8pi/12.25pi is the same as 8/12.25, or 32/49. So, I can shade an approximately 64% larger area for only a 25% increase in price.

It is also more efficient at flying away :biggrin:

 

[tynopik]

Or are you advocating a person eat pizza for a whole week just because it's "efficient" right now?

the XL isn't even twice as large as a medium

so if a medium is 'right-sized' for one meal, an XL would be 2 meals

 

[dave_the_nerd]

pizzas refrigerate well

just eat what you want and save the rest for later

Never tastes as good reheated.

If I didn't have somebody to share it with, I'd be getting a small.

 

[Puppies04]

3toppings

medium = 12" pie
large = 14" pie
XL = 16" pie

area = π * R squared

medium = 3.14 * 36 = 113 sq inches
large = 3.14 * 49 = 154
XL = 3.14 * 64 = 201

medium = 6.2 cents per sq inch
large = 5.5 cents
XL = 4.7 cents

Looks like XL is best bang for the buck?

wowzers.. XL has almost twice the surface area than medium.

I always have this issue when ordering pizzas, I have a decent appetite but there is no way I can eat anything other than a small pizza in one sitting but the medium/large pizzas are always way better value.