You May Be an Engineering Student...

"Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him" (tylerssvtfocushateshim)
02/23/2014 at 02:12 • Filed to: None

When you're calculating the surface area-to-price of a pizza before ordering, just to make sure you're getting the best deal.

That or frugal as fuck.

DISCUSSION (22)

JustWaitingForAMate > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:22

You also need to factor in topping density, to make sure the numbers are right.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > JustWaitingForAMate
02/23/2014 at 02:25

But the tolerances are so big I can't possibly be expected to come to a conclusion! The design specifications guys needs to get their shit together...

GhostZ > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:25

And you'd be an economics student if you figured out your marginal cost of calculation time (in dollars) as a constraint to maximize calories-per-dollar.

JustWaitingForAMate > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:28

Fast food chain pizza toppings have a certain uniformity these days I'm sure the numbers could be deduced.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > JustWaitingForAMate
02/23/2014 at 02:34

You'd think right? A lot of chains have their pizzas pre-made, but the place I work at (not a chain but still) it's all over the board, depending on how busy it is or how much me don't like who ordered (how much of a dick you are on the phone is inversely proportional to the amount of toppings you get).

tromoly > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:34

Amateur. When you start comparing every item in a store by price and weight/volume, then you'll truly be an Engineer.

JustWaitingForAMate > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:39

That's one thing I've noticed. Burger creation is down to a science, everything is pretty much pre allocated for each burger so you end up with a uniform product. But pizzas still have that human input of picking toppings. I'm surprised no one has put a system together that has each pizzas topping allocated, grab a pack, drop it on, done. Removes the randomness of the human element, cuts costs, speeds up pizza creation.....I think I'm onto something.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > tromoly
02/23/2014 at 02:43

well unit prices listed makes things a little easier.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > JustWaitingForAMate
02/23/2014 at 02:47

Actually, a group of ME students did that as their final design project last year here at Purdue. They were having a hell of a time with the programming last I saw. IIRC they were trying to build this airplane bomb bay doors style system that measured the force of toppings in real-time on the doors and would close after x amount was put on but they were having a hell of a time with the programming due to the force constantly changing with the angle of the doors opening and closing. It was fascinating to say the least.

Fookin' Prawns > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:48

...and I thought I was the only one.

E30Kid > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:52

I was doing this as an ex-engineering, current economics major a few weeks ago.

Leadbull > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 02:53

You people scare me.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > Leadbull
02/23/2014 at 02:55

Mock all you want, I saved .4 cents/in^2 on my pizza. So there.

Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him > E30Kid
02/23/2014 at 03:16

Ugh, economics. I have to take 2 classes on both micro and macro and I'm not looking forward to either. Props to you guys, I couldn't handle that for four years.

JDMatt > tromoly
02/23/2014 at 04:29

I've been doing that since high school. I'm an import/export management major.

Cynical > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 07:29

Nah, that is bean counting shit, you have to build some thing with the box when you're done eating.

crowmolly > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 08:33

Do you weight for quality of ingredients? You should.

davedave1111 > Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
02/23/2014 at 19:26

I do that every now and again just to prove to someone else that e.g. 3 12" pizzas are smaller than two 18" pizzas.

davedave1111 > GhostZ
02/23/2014 at 19:26

Are you an economics master when you remember to factor in the value you gain from enjoying finding the best deal? :)

GhostZ > davedave1111
02/23/2014 at 20:03

You're an economics master when you convince enough people in the media world to believe your baseless, simplistic assumptions enough that you can sell millions of books.

Kinja'd!!!

davedave1111 > GhostZ
02/23/2014 at 20:21

Gah. [Politics warning.] Did you ever hear of Richard Murphy?

For what it's worth, I think you're a bit harsh on Krugman. I certainly don't agree with him on everything, or even all that much, but he is a real economist who's worth reading. I don't know so much about his popular works, but bear in mind that even Stephen Hawking has written some rubbish for public consumption.

GhostZ > davedave1111
02/23/2014 at 21:11

You're right, I am harsh!

In the world of the blind, even the one-eyed man is king. I think he's more intelligent than his writings or audience allows, but we all have to make money one way or another.