NRICH: Painted Cube

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?

Imagine a large cube made up from 27 small red cubes.

Imagine dipping the large cube into a pot of yellow paint so the whole outer surface is covered, and then breaking the cube up into its small cubes.

How many of the small cubes will have yellow paint on their faces?
Will they all look the same?

Now imagine doing the same with other cubes made up from small red cubes.
What can you say about the number of small cubes with yellow paint on?

Click here for a poster of this problem.

Age 14 to 16


Math Topics
Algebra & Pre-Algebra, Patterning & Sequencing, Quadratic Equations
High School, Educator
9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade
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Click here for a poster of this problem.

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