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Spoken English > Learn Spoken English > Why a Baker’s Dozen is 13 Instead of 12?
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Why a Baker’s Dozen is 13 Instead of 12?

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English Trainer

Baking trays have a 3:2 aspect ratio. The most efficient way of arranging the biscuits on such a tray results in 13 items with a 4, 5, 4 hexagonal arrangement avoiding corners. Avoiding the corners is important because the corners of the baking tray will heat up and cool off faster than the interior....
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Baking trays have a 3:2 aspect ratio. The most efficient way of arranging the biscuits on such a tray results in 13 items with a 4, 5, 4 hexagonal arrangement avoiding corners. Avoiding the corners is important because the corners of the baking tray will heat up and cool off faster than the interior. Correct me if my explanation is wrong. One question for you- Can you tell me another name for baker's dozen? read less
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Diploma in Production Management. M.A. Economics

Since bakers wanted to stay on the right side of the law, one common trick was to give 13 loaves to any customer buying a dozen. Even if the loaves were light, the extra would cover the shortfall. It was an easy fix for bakers, and since low-carb diets were still seven centuries away, customers rejoi...
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Math Genie

The theory is that it was simply a product of the way bakers bake bread. Baking trays tend to have a 3:2 aspect ratio. The most efficient two-dimensional arrangement then of loaves/biscuits/whatever on such a tray results in 13 items with a 4+5+4 hexagonal arrangement, which avoids corners. It was...
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The theory is that it was simply a product of the way bakers bake bread. Baking trays tend to have a 3:2 aspect ratio. The most efficient two-dimensional arrangement then of loaves/biscuits/whatever on such a tray results in 13 items with a 4+5+4 hexagonal arrangement, which avoids corners. It was important to avoid the corners because the corners of a baking tray will heat up and cool off faster than the edges and the interior, which would result in not cooking anything on the corner evenly with the rest. This theory doesn’t explain why they’d sell them in batches 13 for the price of 12, but at least explains why they may have commonly made them in batches of 13 in the first place and is still a possible source, or at least contributor, to the “baker’s dozen” if it was fairly universal that baker’s baked things in groups of 13, as is suggested by the theory. read less
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English Language / Business Communication Trainer (Corporate Trainer) - Body Language and Soft skills expert.

I think it has its origins in the fact that many societies throughout history have had extremely strict laws concerning baker’s wares, due to the fact that it is fairly easy for bakers to cheat patrons and sell them less than what they think they are getting.
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graduate in Pharmacy, have experience working in various hospitals and training in offices

It is related with weight, as the weight is quiet less and in a packet baker cant measure every single bread, so they provide one extra as compensation.
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Tutor

Several hundred years ago, bakers used to have extremely strict laws because it was so easy for them to cheat buyers by shorting them on bread. These laws even go back to ancient Egypt where someone could have their ear cut off and nailed to the door if they were caught cheating. Bread was especially...
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Several hundred years ago, bakers used to have extremely strict laws because it was so easy for them to cheat buyers by shorting them on bread. These laws even go back to ancient Egypt where someone could have their ear cut off and nailed to the door if they were caught cheating. Bread was especially important because it was often the only thing available for poorer people to eat, and in times of famine, bakers were likely to cheat. To avoid the harsh punishment of being caught as a cheat, bakers began to add an extra piece of bread, which ensured that there was more than what was purchased and they were being honest. So when people came in and asked for a dozen loaves, they would just include 13, which eventually came to be known as a baker’s dozen! read less
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Spoken English

@ Vashima: Long dozen.Thanks for your lead. I just googled to find out.
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Mentor

Vashima “rough rider’s dozen” is another name for baker's dozen, and yes bakers were supposed to have big penalties and hard laws so they used to give 13 for a dozen to save themselves.
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Certified IELTS, Spoken English Coach & Educational consultant

King Henry III was so irked by the problem that he implemented a new law to standardize the weight of a loaf—selling puny loaves could result in beatings or jail time. Since bakers wanted to stay on the right side of the law, one common trick was to give 13 loaves to any customer buying a dozen.
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Tutor

Very interesting question. And enlightening answers. It is delightful to see how societal norms affect the parlance.
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