Do you find it confusing to visualise and identify which net shapes can be folded into cubes?

There are many varieties and you need to know all of them for PSLE. However, your school Maths books may not show you all these net shapes.

1. First, understand that a cube is a 3 dimensional solid with 6 square faces and all its sides are of the same length.
2. For a cube to be formed, there must be a 2-dimensional net plan of 6 squares specially arranged forming a pattern shape. When the sides of the pattern shape are folded upwards, the cube is formed.

So how to identify which net shape can be folded into a cube?

Just look out for the Upper case ‘T’ and Lower case ‘t’ base net pattern arrangements consisting of 6 squares. 

Some 11 net pattern types can be derived from them and folded into cubes.

They can be classified into 4 net groups namely:  

• 6 patterns of Type 1-4-1 net
• 1 pattern of Type 3-3 net
• 3 patterns of Type 1-3-2 net
• 1 pattern of Type 2-2 net