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Three Sets of Cubes, Two Surfaces

Age 7 to 11
Challenge Level Yellow starYellow starYellow star
  • Problem
  • Teachers' Resources
This can be used as a follow-on from Two on Five.
 
You have interlocking cubes of three different colours - 2 of one colour, 3 of another colour and 4 of the third colour.
It could look like this;
2,3,4

This is slightly different from Two on Five but is seen as an extension for some pupils. You might like to go there first!
The nine cubes are to be connected in the usual way with the following rules being applied. 
The two yellow cubes are not allowed to touch the wall or floor surfaces
The Three blue cubes must touch one surface only, the wall or the floor
The four red cubes must touch both wall and floor surfaces

 
Here are two examples that obey the rules;
 

 new 2on3on4
 
See what others you can find.
How many will there be?
At some point ask yourself "I wonder what would happen if I ...?"

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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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