Chapter

7 Cubes and Dices

Section Level No. of Questions

Concept Applicator Very easy 15
Concept Builder Easy 15
Concept Cracker Moderate 15
Concept Deviator Difficult
Introduction
In This Chapter we will study the non-verbal section of Cubes and dice. Verbal questions on cubes has been discussed
earlier in this book. As cube is a three dimensional geometrical figure, which can only be made out of squares. Square
when given a height equal to one of the sides becomes a cube. It has six equal sides or surface Twelve edges and eight
corners.
When the number of cubes or blocks in a figure is to be counted following procedure to be adopted.
Counting the Number of Cubes / Blocks.
Example 1:

(a) 5 (b) 6 (c) 7 (d) 8

Solution: the above figure consists 3 blocks in a column and one block in 3-columns.
Total blocks = (3 × 1) + (1 × 3) = 3 + 3 = 6
Option (b)

Example 2:

(a) 20 (b) 21 (c) 22 (d) 24

Solution: The above figure we can solve by consisting rows too.
There are two rows with 8 blocks and 1 rows – 6 blocks.
Total Blocks – (2 × 8) + (1 × 6) = 16 + 6 = 22
Option (c)
 342 Cubes and Dices
Example 3:

(a) 17 (b) 18 (c) 19 (d) 20

Solution: The above figure we can count by columns method:

Four columns – one cube each
Three columns - two cubes each
Two columns - three cubes each
One Column - Four cubes each
Below the numbers on the cubes represents the total cubes present on the particular column.

3 3

2 2 2

1 1 1 1

Hence, the total number of cubes be = (4 × 1) + (2 × 3) + (3 × 2) + (1 × 4) = 4 + 6 + 6 + 4 = 20

Option (d).

1. Concept Applicator
1.
3.

(a) 10 (b) 11
(c) 12 (d) 13

2.

(a) 84 (b) 64
(c) 48 (d) 50

(a) 20 (b) 25
(c) 15 (d) 30
Cubes and Dices 343
4. 8.

(a) 10 (b) 11
(c) 12 (d) 13
(a) 79 (b) 80
5.
(c) 81 (d) 82
9.

(a) 20 (b) 25
(c) 30 (d) 35
6.

(a) 79 (b) 80
(c) 81 (d) 82
10.

(a) 20 (b) 24
(c) 28 (d) 30
(a) 15 (b) 18
7.
(c) 20 (d) 22

(a) 8 (b) 9
(c) 10 (d) 11
 344 Cubes and Dices

2. Dices
Candidate may face a dice (a cube or cuboid) in various positions. Our job is to find out the number opposite a given
number on the dice.

In the above direction we have given the name from left to right (in anti –clock wise direction). Following examples will
clear our concepts.
Example 1: Two different positions of the same dice are given below. Find the number on the face opposite the face
showing 3?

2 3

3 1 4 5

(i) (ii)
Solution: We shall first find the number which occurs most often in the given figures. Clearly from the first and second
figure we find that the adjacent numbers of 3 be 1, 2, 4 and 5. So the number which face number 3 be 6.

5 3 2

1
Cubes and Dices 345
Example 2: Three different positions of the same dice are given below. Find the number on the face opposite the face
showing 4?

5 3 4

3 1 4 5 3 2

(i) (ii) (iii)

Solution: Clearly from the figures we find 3 in all the cubes.

From the First Figure we find the adjacent number of three be 5 and 1.
From second we find the adjacent number of three be 4 and 5.
From third we get 4 and 2 as adjacent numbers, hence we find 1,2,4 and 5 hence 6 is opposite of 3.
Now from figure (ii) and (iii) we get 2, 3, 5 and 6 (from above, as 6 six is opposite to 3 but adjacent to 4) are adjacent
to 4. Hence 1 is opposite to number 4.

Example 3: How many dots are there on the dice face opposite the one with three dots?

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(a) 2 (b) 4 (c) 5 (d) 6
Solution: From figure (I), (II) and (IV) we can able to observe a common dice face that is 3 dots.
From figure (I), (II) and (IV) we get that 1, 2,4 and 6 are adjacent to 3 dots. Hence, 5 dots on the face opposite the face
with 3 dots. Option (c) is our answer.

3. Concept Applicator
1. Two Position of a dice are shown below:

(i) (ii)
When six is at the bottom, what number will be at the top?
(a) 1 (b) 2 (c) 4 (d) 5
 346 Cubes and Dices
2. Two positions of a block are shown below. When 2 is 6. What number is opposite of 3 in the figure shown
at the bottom which number will be at the top? below?

2 1

6 5 5 4

(i) (ii) (i) (ii)

(a) 1 (b) 4 (a) 2 (b) 4
(c) 6 (d) cannot be determine (c) 5 (d) 6
3. Two positions of a block are shown below. When 2 7. How many dots are contained on the faces opposite
dots is at the bottom which number of dots will be at to that containing four dots?
the top?

(i) (ii)
(i) (ii)
(a) 2 (b) 3
(a) 3 (b) 5
(c) 6 (d) 1
(c) 6 (d) cannot be determine
8. Below there are three different positions of a dice.
(S.S.C)
Find the number of dots on the face opposite to the
4. Two positions of a dice are shown below. When 1 is
face with one dot.
at the top which number will be at the bottom?

6 6

1 4 4 5

(i) (ii) (i) (ii) (iii)

(a) 2 (b) 3 (a) 2 (b) 3
(c) 5 (d) cannot be determine (c) 4 (d) 6
5. Two positions of a dice are shown below. When 3 is 9. A dice is thrown four times and its four different
at the top which number will be at the bottom? positions are shown below. Find the number on the
 (S. S. C) face opposite the face showing 2.

6 2 1
4 1 3

2 4 3 4 5 4 3 2

6 5 6 3

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(a) 3 (b) 4
(i) (ii) (c) 5 (d) 6
(a) 2 (b)4
(c) 5 (d) 6
Cubes and Dices 347
[Link] the total sum of numbers on opposite faces of a cubical block is always 7, find the figure which is correct.

2 3 3 5

6 1 6 4 1 5 3 2

(a) (b) (c) (d)

4.. Box / Dice Construction

Very often these problems in which an examinee is given a figure with a specific design and the candidate is asked to
identify the cube or cuboids that will be formed by folding the designed figure or to identify which number may appear
behind the number. Below there are few forms of a box or cube which helps you to understand the patterns.
Pattern 1:
1 1
3 2 3 4
or
2 5 4 5
1
6 6
2 3 4
1. Lies opposite of 5
5
2. Lies opposite of 4
6
3. Lies opposite of 6

Pattern 2:

1 1 1
2 3 2 3 2 3
5 4 or 4 5
5
6 6 4 6

1. Lies opposite of 5 As we change the numbers of the faces, then

3. Lies opposite of 6 1. Lies opposite of 4
2. Lies opposite of 4 3. Lies opposite of 6
2. Lies opposite of 5
Pattern 3:

1
2
3 4
5
6

1
2
3 4
5
 348 Cubes and Dices
1. Lies opposite of 3
2. Lies opposite of 5
4. Lies opposite of 6

Pattern 4:
+
1

– 2 3 4 /

5
x

1. Lies opposite of 5
2. Lies opposite of 4
3. Lies opposite of +
– /
x
Pattern 5:
+
1
–
2 3 4
/
5
x

1. Lies opposite of 5
2. Lies opposite of 4
3. Lies opposite of – +
x /
For Example:
Direction: The sheet of Paper shown in the Figure is folded to form a box. Choose from the amongst the alternatives
(a), (b), (c) and (d). The box that are similar to the box that will be formed

A
B C D
E
E D B F

F F
C
E
C
C
D
C
A

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Solution: In option (a) C can be adjacent to E not to F. Similarly D can be adjacent to C not to B in figure (c). In figure
(d) F cannot be adjacent to C rather it will be opposite to F. hence option be which is similar to the question
figure.
Cubes and Dices 349

5. Concept Applicator
1. Among the four alternatives which one cannot be
the similar box as the question figure.
(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)
(a) Only (i)
(b) (i) and (ii) both
(c) (i), (ii) and (iv) only
(d) None of them
4. Among the four alternatives choose which are can
be the similar boxes as the question figure.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

2. Among the four alternatives choose which one can

be the similar box as the question figure.

(i) (ii)

(iii) (iv)

(a) Only (i) (b) only (ii)

(c) (i) and (ii) (d) (iii) and (iv)
5. Among the four alternatives choose which one can
be the similar box as the question figure.
(a) (b)

1
(c) (d)

3. Among the four alternatives choose which are can 4 2 5

be the similar boxes as the question figure. 1 1
3
4 4
4 24 5 2 5 3 3
1 1
3 3 5 5
4 24 52 5 4 4 4 4 4 4
(a) 3 3 3 (b) 3 2 2
3 3 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 (c)4 2 2
4 (d)
3
 350 Cubes and Dices
6. Among the four alternatives choose which one can
be the similar box as the question figure.
(a) (b)
+

– (c) (d)
+ +
(i) Only a (ii) Only b
x ?
(iii) b and c only (iv) b, c and d only
– – x + – +
/ / x 9. Among ? four alternatives choose which one can
the
? / ?
x x
? ? be the similar box as the question figure.
x x + + + +
/ / / / x x
–
?
–
? –
? ? / / ? ?
(a) (b)
+ +
/
x
/ x
+
(c) x
–
?
–
?
+ – – = =
? / / ?(d) ?
7. Among the four alternatives which one cannot be
the similar box as – – figure. = =
the question = =
–
–
+
– – –
– – +
= = + + – +
= = + +
– –
– –
(a) (b)
– – – –
– – + + – +
– + –
(c) – (d)
+ + – –
10. Among the four alternatives which one cannot be
the similar box as the question figure.

(a) (b)
2 3 4 5
(c) (d)
3
2 3
8. Among the four alternatives which are cannot be the
2 23 43 45 5
similar box as the question figure.
(a) 3 3 (b) 2 2 3 3
2 2 3 3 2 2 5
2 23 43 5
4 5
3 2 (c)
2 3 (d) 4 4
2 3 3 2 3 5
2 3 2 5
Cubes and Dices 351

Answer with Explanation

Solutions Of Cubes and Dices
1. There is 6 columns with 2 cubes each. Total boxes = 6. One column with 10 boxes = 1 × 10 = 10
6 × 2 = 12, option (c)
Two column with 7 boxes = 2 × 7 = 14
2. There are total 4 rows and 5 boxes in each row, then
One column with 4 boxes= 1 × 4 = 4
5 × 4 = 20 boxes. Option (a)
Total boxes = 28, hence option (c)
3. There are total 42 cubes present in the upper portion.
Then total cubes be 42 × 2 = 84 7. Total cubes = 9
or 8. There are 9 columns with 5 cubes = 9 × 5
24 columns with 2 cubes each = 24 × 2 = 48 There are 7 columns with 4 cubes = 7 × 4
14 columns with 2 cubes each = 28 There are 5 columns with 3 cubes = 5 × 3
4 columns with 2 cubes each = 8 There are 3 columns with 2 cubes = 3 × 2
Total cubes = 48 + 28 + 8 = 84, hence option (a) There is one column with 1 cubes = 1 × 1
4. 4 columns with 1 cubes = 4 cubes Total = 9 × 5 + 7 × 4 + 5 × 3 + 3 × 2 + 1 × 1 = 81
1 columns with 3 cubes = 3 [ note you have observed that the particular figure
1 columns with 4 cubes = 4 where the number of column decreases by 2 and
number of cubes by 1 ]
Total cubes = 4 + 3 + 4 = 11, option (b)
9. Option (d), i.e 15 × 3 + 13 × 2 + 11 × 1 = 82 cubes
5. Total cubes 25, option (b)
10. Option (c) there are 20 cubes.

Dice – concept applicator

1. Option (d) From both the figures we find that respectively. Clearly by combination, 3 dots lie on
numbers 1,2,3 and 4 dots appear adjacent to 6 . the face opposite the face having 2 dots. Therefore,
thus, the number 5 dots will appear opposite to 6. when there are 2 dots at the bottom, the number of
Therefore when 6 is at the bottom, then 5 will be at dots at the top will be 3.
the top.
4. Option (c) as we can observe the position of 6 is
2. Option (c) Number three is common in both the same in both the figures and position of 4 moves
figures we assume the block in figure (ii) to be rotated from Right hand side to Left hand side (clock wise
so that three appears at the same position as in direction). Clearly we can observe that 5 is just
figure (i) and the numbers 5 and 2 move to the faces opposite of number 1.
hidden behind the numbers 4 and 6 respectively.
5. Option (c) as number 6 position is same in both the
Thus the combined figure will have 3 on right hand
figures. We can assume that the dice to be rotated
side face, 4 on the front face, 6 on the top face, 5 on
so that 6 remains on the same face and 1,3,4 and 5
the rear face and 2 on the bottom face. Clearly when
will be arranged ascending order as all are adjacent
2 is at the bottom, then 6 is at the top.
to 6. Hence, when 3 is in top, 5 will be at bottam.
3. Option (a) Number 1 is common to both the figures
6. Option (c) as 5 is common on both the figure, and
(i) and (ii). The dice in fig. (ii) is assumed to be
1,2,4 and 6 are adjacent to 5 . hence 3 is opposite
rotated so that 1 dot moves to the top face [Link]
of 5.
the same position as in figure (i) and 2 and 4 dots
move to the face behind the faces with 3 and 5 dots
 352 Cubes and Dices
7. Option (a) as both the figure contains one dot and 5 10. Option (c) as per the question, sum of the numbers
dots, fixing the 5 dots face and moving one dot face on opposite sides or faces is always 7. Therefore 1
position to fig (i). we find 4 dots is opposite to 2 dots. apprears opposite 6, 2 appears opposite 5 and 3
must appears opposite of 4.
8. Option (d): as 1, 3 5 and 6 are adjacent to 2 in all
the three positions, if 3 is opposite to 5 that we came In (a) 1 cannot adjacent to 6
across from the figures. So it is obvious that one will
In (b) 3 cannot adjacent to 4
be opposite to 6.
In (d) 2 cannot appears adjacent to 5
9. Option (c) from figure I, ii and iv we conclude that 6,
4, 3 and 1 lie adjacent to 2. Hence 5 be opposite of 2. Hence only option (c) is correct.

Solutions of Dice Construction

1. (c) as the dot face cannot be adjacent to both the 5. (a) option (a) satisfies all the conditions of dice
dark shaded faces. Hence option © cannot be formation or constructions.
possible. 6. (a)option (a) it is clear from the alternatives.
2. (c) option (a) and option (d) will be eliminated as we 7. (b) in option (b) “?” and “/” are adjacent to each
see the figure as the pattern face is adjacent to face other, which cannot be possible.
C, which cannot be possible. In Option (b) D and E
both are adjacent to C, but there direction should 8. (iii) option b and c cannot satisfies the conditions of
be clock wise. Face D on the left side and face E on dice formation, as option (b) B cannot be adjacent
the right side that can be possible only when pattern to D and in option (c) two white faces cannot be
face be on the top. Hence option (c) adjacent to each other.

3. (b) option (iii) will be eliminated as the separation 9. (a) from the alternatives it is very easy to recognize
present on the two faces which is possible and option (a) as it satisfies all the conditions of a dice
option (iv) as the separation is not on the middle of formation.
the face. 10. (c): in option (c) 2 and 5 are adjacent to the whiter
4. (d) option (i) and (ii) cannot be possible as the portion side of the half shaded face, but in the option
shaded face will not be adjacent to doted face. 2 is attached with the darker side, which cannot be
possible.