Cubes and cuboids

  • Cuboid-in-a-Box
    problem

    Cuboid-in-a-box

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    What is the smallest cuboid that you can put in this box so that you cannot fit another that's the same into it?
  • All Wrapped Up
    problem

    All wrapped up

    Age
    7 to 11
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star
    What is the largest cuboid you can wrap in an A3 sheet of paper?
  • Cubestick
    problem

    Cubestick

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Stick some cubes together to make a cuboid. Find two of the angles by as many different methods as you can devise.
  • Sending a Parcel
    problem

    Sending a parcel

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    What is the greatest volume you can get for a rectangular (cuboid) parcel if the maximum combined length and girth are 2 metres?

  • Classic cube
    problem

    Classic cube

    Age
    16 to 18
    Challenge level
    filled star empty star empty star
    The net of a cube is to be cut from a sheet of card 100 cm square. What is the maximum volume cube that can be made from a single piece of card?
  • Inside Out
    problem

    Inside out

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star

    There are 27 small cubes in a 3 x 3 x 3 cube, 54 faces being visible at any one time. Is it possible to reorganise these cubes so that by dipping the large cube into a pot of paint three times you can colour every face of all of the smaller cubes?

  • Cuboids
    problem

    Cuboids

    Age
    11 to 14
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star filled star

    Can you find a cuboid that has a surface area of exactly 100 square units. Is there more than one? Can you find them all?

  • All Tied Up
    problem

    All tied up

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A ribbon runs around a box so that it makes a complete loop with two parallel pieces of ribbon on the top. How long will the ribbon be?
  • The Spider and the Fly
    problem

    The spider and the fly

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    A spider is sitting in the middle of one of the smallest walls in a room and a fly is resting beside the window. What is the shortest distance the spider would have to crawl to catch the fly?
  • Painted Cube
    problem

    Painted cube

    Age
    14 to 16
    Challenge level
    filled star filled star empty star
    Imagine a large cube made from small red cubes being dropped into a pot of yellow paint. How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?