The paper pattern below is folded along its lines into a cube. Which of these cubes does it make?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) →
Opposite faces are never seen together. On the sheet, two squares in a straight line with one square between them become opposite faces, and the two squares on either side of the row of four are opposite too. The coloured sheet shows the three pairs:
4 and 6 (one square between them in the row)
1 and 2 (one square between them in the row)
3 and 5 (on the two sides of the row of four)
Option (2) shows 6, 5 and 2; no two of them are opposite, and folding the sheet puts them round one corner in exactly this order.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (1) — Incorrect. It shows 4 and 6 side by side, but they are opposite faces (one square between them in the row).
Option (3) — Incorrect. It shows 3 and 5 side by side, but they are opposite faces (on the two sides of the row of four).
Option (4) — Incorrect. It shows 1 and 2 side by side, but they are opposite faces (one square between them in the row).