11 Plus Exams Forum

Small cubes measuring 2 x 2 x 2 cm are put into a larger box measuring 5 x 9 x 6
(6 is the height of the box, so the base is actually 5 x 9) as per the picture on the paper.

a) what is the largest number of small cubes which could fit into the bottom layer of the box,

so DD said that it was essentially an area question, so worked out 45cm2 / 4 cm2 so 11 can fit into the bottom layer.

but then when we drew it out, it seems to be 8 (lining up 4 along the length of 9 cm) and then another row next to that one.

Any ideas -

Thanks
Sleepyhead

Yes - this is designed to catch out people that just divide areas/volumes!

You need to look at how many fit along each side as your method did.

thank you