The author initially embarked on a quest to solve the age-old onion-cutting problem after discussing it with a friend. Inspired by a YouTube video’s claim that cutting radially towards a point 60% of the radius below the onion’s center yields uniform slices, the author delved into the mathematical complexities of the issue. Through a series of calculations involving multivariable calculus and numerical integration, the author discovered the “true onion constant” of 0.5573066, which contradicted the video’s claim. The unique number, dubbed samekh, represents the ideal cutting depth to achieve evenly sliced onions and opens the door to further exploration of this intriguing culinary-mathematical challenge.
https://medium.com/@drspoulsen/a-solution-to-the-onion-problem-of-j-kenji-l%C3%B3pez-alt-c3c4ab22e67c