One die is drawn below in two different ways. Find the number opposite 3.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → 7
Both pictures show the face 5. Read the three faces of each picture in the same turning order (top, front, right, and round again), starting from 5; the faces that then stand in the same place in both lists are opposite each other.
Picture (i): top 5, front 8, right 3; from 5 the order is 5, 8, 3
Picture (ii): top 7, front 5, right 4; from 5 the order is 5, 4, 7
Second places: 8 and 4 are opposite
Third places: 3 and 7 are opposite
So the face opposite 3 is 7.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) 4 — Incorrect. 4 is the face opposite 8, so it cannot also be opposite 3.
Option (3) 8 — Incorrect. 8 is seen next to 3 in picture (i), so it touches 3 and cannot be opposite it.
Option (4) 5 — Incorrect. 5 is seen next to 3 in picture (i), so it touches 3 and cannot be opposite it.