Three Cubed
Can you make a 3×3 cube with these shapes made from small cubes?
Problem
Can you make a $3\times 3$ cube with these shapes made from small cubes?
You can record your answer as either pictures or as a net of the cube.
Getting Started
Make the shapes from interlocking cubes such as "multilink".
The central small cube is blue.
Student Solutions
We had great solutions to this problem from children at Cupernham Junior School and also from Christopher. Both Scarlett from Cupernham and Christopher began by drawing the faces of the cube they had made:
Scarlett
Christopher
However, it is a little difficult to be clear how the sides fit together and Scarlett explained that she decided to draw the results as a net instead:
Then her friends joined in and sent us different nets of the same cube:
Sam
Abigail and William
Ed
Bethany
Thank you to you all for emailing us with your answers.
Teachers' Resources
Why do this problem?
This problem is one which can help learners to relate 2-D representations and 3-D shapes. It is definitely one which requires making the shapes practically from interlocking cubes such as "multilink" using the 2-D drawings and then recording on squared paper (preferably in colour).
Key questions
Possible extension
Learners could draw the various elevations; plan view, side view etc and even cross-sections.
Possible support
Suggest making the shapes from interlocking cubes such as "multilink" in the same colours as in the problem to make it easier to tell them apart.