Amaya Holliday POW #9

2/25/16
Process:
I started this POW by drawing 6 squares on a piece of graph paper. These squares was
5x5 squares. I then labeled all the smaller cubes 1, 2, or 3 depending on where they were
placed. The 1, 2, and, 3 represented how many sides were painted. I ended up counting all the
different smaller cubes and then looking for patterns. I noticed there are 8, 3-sides colored
smaller cubes. I found this out by visualizing it in my head and writing in on my scratch paper. I
then repeated these steps for a 3x3, 4x4, and 6x6 cube. ( You can see this on my scratch
paper.) Next, I put all the data I found in this chart to help me keep organized.

3x3

4x4

5x5

6x6

NxN

1 side
colored

24

54

96

Subtract 2 from
the dimensions
on the cube and
multiply that by
itself. After that
you multiply it by
6.

2 sides
colored

12

24

36

48

Subtract 2 from
the dimensions
and then
multiply the
number by 12

3 sides
colored

All cubes have 8

I then looked for patterns the first one I saw was that 3 sides colored always had 8.
Then, I looked at the 2 sides colored section. I noticed that all the numbers were multiples of 12.
After that I realized to find the answer you Subtract 2 from the dimensions and then multiply the
number by 12. For example, 3x3, 3-2 is 1. Multiply 1 by 12 and you get 12. Next, I looked at the
1-side colored section and realized that you subtract 2 from the dimensions on the cube and
multiply that by itself. After that you multiply it by 6. To prove this, I will take the 4x4 cube which
had 24 smaller cubes with one side colored. 4 minus 2 is 2, 2 multiplied by itself is 4 by 6. You
end up getting 24. Throughout this process I got help from Autumn. She thankfully helped me
understand any questions I had on this POW.

Solution:

In a 5x5 inch cube there are 54 small cubes with 1 side colored. There are 36 with 2
sides colored. Lastly, there are 8 with three sides colored. If you want to find these for a cube
regardless of its size then you must follow these patterns I found. I learned there will always be
8, 3-sides colored cubes. I also learned to find how many 2-sides colored cubes you must
Subtract 2 from the dimensions and then multiply the number by 12. Furthermore, If you want to
discover how many smaller cubes have just 1 side colored then you must subtract 2 from the
dimensions on the cube and multiply that by itself. After that you multiply it by 6.
Extension:
A rectangular prism is 7 inches long and is made of smaller 1 inch by 1 inch cube. Bob
wants to paint the rectangular prism on all of its faces. Bobs friend Sally comes along and
wants to know how many smaller cubes have just 3 sides colored. She also, wants to know how
many smaller cubes have 2 and 1 sides colored.
Evaluation:
I struggled with this POW because I left it until the last three days before it was due. I
should've done more of it over the duration we were given it. Fortunately, I really enjoyed this
POW because it was not the hardest concept to understand.