BLOCK PARTY

BUILDING OUT

Each series below shows the first three shapes in a progressive sequence. For instance, in series A the shapes increase from 1 to 6 and then to 18 cubes. How many cubes are in the next shape in each sequence? You may assume that hidden cubes are where you expect them to be.

A [Easy}

1618
 

B [Challenging}

1619
 




C [Difficult]

544842
 


FOLDING IN

Find pairs of patterns below that could be folded to create identical cubes. For instance, the two patterns above could both be folded into a cube with targets on adjacent faces.

A [Easy]   Hint: Count the squares of each color.

 

B [Challenging]  Hint: Some letters look the same no matter how they’re rotated.

C [Difficult]   Hint: The red dots are always on opposite faces.


a + f = block

d + d = block

 

 

STACKING UP

Fit each figure below with another figure to complete a solid 3 x 3 x 2 block. You can rotate figures—for example, figure f can be rotated to fit into figure a—but you can’t use mirror reflections to complete a figure. In some cases a figure can fit with a copy of itself to form a block. Hint: Think of each figure in terms of a top layer of cubes and a bottom layer of cubes.

 

abcd
efgh
ijkl