How many cupcakes to make the shape of the number 40

ArbitraryRandom

Rosa_Damascena said:

ArbitraryRandom said:

This is the fewest I can come up with (if you wanted to use your larger cases and depending on how many people you were expecting)

The starting point is the number being catered for. The next question is whether the OP is looking to deliver something with a wow factor or prioritise economy. Whilst geometrically correct,16 cupcakes do not scream out party to me.

I don't disagree... but all I'm doing is giving the OP another option (and I don't think more choice is ever a bad thing ). 

Starting with the fewest possible gives somewhere to work from, and if they want more but like the layout then they could easily add to it or double up by making the 'lines' thicker.  

I don't know about the OP, but I also think seeing it on square paper helps visualise how it'll look.