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Same Face

Age 11 to 14
ShortChallenge Level Yellow starYellow star
Secondary curriculum
  • Problem
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One way of visualising this is to imagine that the path shown sticks to the cube, with the path moving rather than the cube. This produces the same result, but might be easier to visualise.

Then, 1 attaches to the base of the cube, 2 attaches to the right hand face and 3 attaches to the top. 4 attaches to the back face and 5 to the left hand face. 6 then attaches to the bottom face and 7 to the front face.

This means both 1 and 6 are on the same face, so the same face of the cube rolls onto 1 and 6.

This problem is taken from the UKMT Mathematical Challenges.
You can find more short problems, arranged by curriculum topic, in our short problems collection.

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Draw a square. A second square of the same size slides around the first always maintaining contact and keeping the same orientation. How far does the dot travel?

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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