Problem 10 · 2015 Math Kangaroo
Medium
Spatial & Visual Reasoning
cube-viewsspatial-reasoning
Michael has two building blocks. Each building block is made up of two cubes glued together. Which figure can he not make using the blocks? (The five answer figures are shown in the figure.)
Show answer
Answer: B
Show hints
Hint 1 of 2
Each block is two cubes glued in a straight line (a 1x2 domino shape).
Still stuck? Show hint 2 →
Hint 2 of 2
A figure can be made only if it splits into two such straight 1x2 pieces.
Show solution
Approach: check if each shape splits into two straight two-cube blocks
- Michael has two straight pieces, each made of two cubes in a row.
- Try to cut each figure into two such straight two-cube pieces.
- Four of the figures can be split this way, but figure B cannot be cut into two straight two-cube blocks, so the answer is B.
Mark:
· log in to save