This brain teaser challenges you to figure out how many smaller cubes are missing in a 5×4 larger cube. It may seem like a simple counting task, but there’s a trick.
Common mistakes are often made when solving this puzzle. Many rush through and overlook details. Some assume a simple subtraction pattern, ignore gaps in different sections, or miscount edge gaps. It’s crucial to carefully observe the cube’s layer structure.
Let’s break down the solution step by step. The given cube is a 5 × 4 arrangement of smaller cubes, and we need to fill in the gaps.
In the innermost layer, there’s one horizontal gap with two column gaps, so 2 cubes are missing (1 × 2 = 2).
The middle layer has two horizontal gaps and three column gaps, resulting in 6 missing cubes (2 × 3 = 6).
The outermost layer contains three horizontal gaps and four column gaps, meaning 12 cubes are missing (3 × 4 = 12).