Mental Ability

Dice & cube

Dice is a three dimensional figure with all of its surfaces numbered. We are giving below few properties of Dice
which will help candidates to solve various problems on Dice.
1. A dice has six surfaces and all of them are numbered from 1 to 6.
2. If the surfaces of dice are unfolded and placed on a plane, the figure of dice so obtained will look like one of the
following figures:
Form I In this case

1 lies opposite 5 ;

2 lies opposite 4 ;

3 lies opposite 6.

Form II In this case

1 lies opposite 6 ;

2 lies opposite 4 ;

3 lies opposite 5.

Form III In this case

1 lies opposite 4 ;

2 lies opposite 6 ;

3 lies opposite 5.
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Form IV In this case

1 lies opposite 4 ;

2 lies opposite 5:

3 lies opposite 6.

Form V In this case

1 lies opposite 3 ;

2 lies opposite 5 ;

4 lies opposite 6.

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Class IX
Form VI In this case

+
– =
× will be the one of the faces of the cube and it lies opposite 3;

2 lies opposite 4 ;

1 lies opposite 5.

Form VII In this case

– +
×= will be the one of the faces of the cube and it lies opposite 3;

2 lies opposite 4 ;

1 lies opposite 5.

Form VIII In this case

=
+ and – × are two faces of the cube that lie opposite to each other..

1 lies opposite 3 ;

2 lies opposite 4 ;

Ca teg ory –I
Ex . A dice has been thrown four times and produces following results. Which number will appear opposite to the number 3 ?
6 5 3 2
1 4 1 6
3 2 5 3

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) 4 (2) 5 (3) 6 (4) 1
S o l . From the figures (i), (ii) and (iv), we find that numbers 6, 1, 5 and 2 appear on the adjacent surfaces to the
Node5\e\Data\CBSE-2016\09th\Advance\CCP\Mental Ability\06-Non-Verbal\09_Dice & cube.p65
number 3. Therefore, number 4 will be opposite to number 3. Hence, option (1) is the correct answer.
Cat eg ory –II
Ex . The figures given below show the two different positions of a dice. Which number will appear opposite to
number 2?
4 5
2 6
3 4

(i) (ii)
(1) 3 (2) 4 (3) 5 (4) 6
S o l . The above question, where only two positions of a dice are given, can easily be solved with the following method.

6
IV

5 4 2
V I III

3
II

1
VI

Fig. X
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 Mental Ability
S tep-I The dice, when unfolded, will appear as shown in Fig.X
Step-II Write the common number of both the dice in the middle block. Since common number is 4, hence
number 4 will appear in the central block.
Step -III Consider the Fig. (i) and write the first number in the anti-clockwise direction of number 4, (common
number) in block I and second number in block II. Therefore, numbers 3 and 2 being the first and
second number to 4 in anti-clockwise directions respectively, will appear in blocks I and II, respectively.
St ep-IV Consider Fig. (ii) and write first and second number in the anti-clockwise direction to number 4,
(common number) in block III and IV. Hence, numbers 6 and 5 will appear in the blocks III and IV,
respectively.
S te p-V Write the remaining number in the remaining block. Therefore, number 1 will come in the remaining
block.
Now, from the unfolded figures we find that number opposite to 6 is 3, number opposite to 2 is 5 and number
opposite to 4 is 1. Therefore, option (3) is the correct answer.
Cate g o ry–III
Ex . From the following figures of dice, find which number will come in place of '?'.

4 5 1
3 2 ?
2 1 6

(i) (ii) (iii)

(1) 4 (2) 5 (3) 2 (4) 3

S o l . If the above dice is unfolded, it will look like as Fig-I. given below. (Candidate should follow the methods as
explained in the previous example to find the appropriate place of the numbers appearing on the different
surfaces of the dice in the above Fig.)
Now the number in place of '?' can be obtained by making a slight change in the figure as given here.
Now comparing Fig-I. with Fig. (iii) above, we get that number in place of ? is 3.
4 4
5 2 3 5 2
1 1 3 1 3
6 6
6
(I) (II)
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Ca te g or y– IV
Ex . Which of the following dices is identical to the unfolded figure as shown here ?

2
5 1
4 3
6

3 1 2 3
4 5 4 4
6 3 6 2

(1) (2) (3) (4)

S o l . From the unfolded figure of dice, we find that number opposite to 2 is 4, for 5 it is 3 and for 1 it is 6. From this
result we can definitely say that figure (2), (3) and (4) can't be the answer figure as numbers lying on the opposite
pair of surfaces are present on the adjacent surfaces. Hence, figure (1) is the answer.

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Class IX

Directions (Q.1 to Q.10) : In each of the following questions, four positions of the same dice have been shown. You
have to see these figures and select the number opposite to the number as asked in each of the question.
1. Which number is on the opposite surface of number 3?

3 3 2 4
6 1 1 6
5 6 3 1

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) 4 (2) 6 (3) 5 (4) 1

2. Which number is opposite to number 1 ?

2 5 1 6
5 2 6 4
4 1 5 5

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) 4 (2) 6 (3) 2 (4) 3
3. Which number is opposite to number 5 ?

3 2 5 6
4 1 4 3
5 6 2 5

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) 6 (2) 5 (3) 1 (4) 3
4. Which number is opposite to number 2 ?

6 4 5 6
4 3 2 5
2 2 3 1

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

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5. Which number is opposite to number 5?

2 6 5 1
3 1 2 3
1 4 3 4

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) 4 (2) 6 (3) 1 (4) 3
6. Which number is on the opposite surface of number 3 ?

3 2 5 3
1 5 4 3 1 2 6
6

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4) 6

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 Mental Ability
7. Which letter will be opposite to letter D?
E C D B
C E B A
A D C C

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) A (2) B (3) E (4) F
8. Which symbol will come opposite to symbol
–·· –··
= =
× = –··

(i) (ii) (iii) (iv)

(1) (2) = (3) × (4)

5 4
9. 2 2
1 6

(i) (ii)
Which number will come opposite to number 2 ?
(1) 5 (2) 1 (3) 6 (4) 3
10. Which will be the number at the bottom, if 5 is at the top?

1 6
2 3
4 2

(i) (ii)
(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 6
11. All the surfaces of the dice contain different numbers in the form of dots. Consider both the figures of dice and
tell how many dots are contained on the face opposite to the face that contains four dots?
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(i) (ii)
(1) 2 (2) 3 (3) 5 (4) 6
12. What is the number of dots on the face opposite to the face that contains 2 dots?

(i) (ii)
(1) 1 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4) 6

13. On the basis of two figures of dice, you have to tell what number will be on the opposite face of number 5 ?

6 5
4 1 3
3

(i) (ii)
(1) 1 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4) 5
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Class IX
14. When number 1 is at the top, which number will be at the bottom?

(i) (ii)

(1) 1 (2) 2 (3) 3 (4) 6

15. Which alphabet will come on the opposite surface on which alphabet F appears?

C E D
B C A
A D F

(i) (ii) (iii)

(1) B (2) A (3) C (4) E
16. What should be the number opposite 3?

2 3 4
1 3 1 5 2 3

(i) (ii) (ii)

(1) 1 (2) 6 (3) 5 (4) 4

17. What is the number of dots on the face opposite to that containing 2 dots?

(1) 1 (2) 3 (3) 4 (4) 6

18. The different positions of a dice has been shown. What digit will be opposite to digit 4 ?

3 4 2
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(1) 6 (2) 1 (3) 5 (4) 2

Directions (Q.19 to Q.22) : In each of the following questions, the second die is obtained by rotating the
first die horizontally to right by an angle of 90°. Observe the dice and answer the questions.
19. The faces of this die show numbers 1. 2. 3. 4, 5 and 6. Number on the face opposite to the face showing
4 is

2 2
3 4 5 3

(1) 1 (2) 6 (3) 5 (4) 3

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 Mental Ability
20. The faces of this die show symbols , #, *, X, , and O. Symbol on the face opposite to the face showing
is

* # *

(1) A (2) O or X (3) # (4) X

21. The faces of this die shows letters A, B, C, D. E and F. Letter on the face opposite to the face showing
the letter C is

A
A
B C
C D

(1) F (2) E (3) B (4) E or F

22. The faces of this die show 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 dots. Number of dots on the face opposite to the face showing
1 dot is

(1) 4 or 6 (2) 4 (3) 6 (4) 2

Directions (Q.23 to Q.26) : In each of the following questions, the second die is obtained by rotating the
first die horizontally to left by an angle of 90°. Observe the dice and answer the questions.
23. The faces of this die show numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Number on the face opposite to the face showing
2 is
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1 1
2 3 3 4

(1) 3 (2) 6 (3) 4 (4) 5

24. The faces, of this die show symbols , #, *, X, , and O. Symbol on the face opposite to the face showing
is

* *
# O O

(1) A (2) # (3) X (4) *

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Class IX
25. The faces of this die show letters A, B, C, D, E and F Letter on the face opposite to the face showing the
letter A is

C C
B A E
A

(1) E (2) D (3) F (4) D or F

26. The faces of this die show 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 dots. Number of dots on the face opposite to the face showing
2 dots is

(1) 5 or 6 (2) 6 (3) 5 (4) 4

Directions (Q.27to Q.30): In each of the following questions, the second die is obtained by rotating the
first die vertically to right by an angle of 90°. Observe the dice and answer the questions.
27. The faces of this die show numbers 1. 2, 3. 4. 5 and 6. Number on the face opposite to the face showing
1 is

1
2 3 2
5 3

(1) 4 (2) 6 (3) 5 (4) 2

28. The faces of this die show symbols , #, *, X, and O. Symbol on the face opposite to the face showing
X is

*
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# #
O X O

(1) O (2) (3) (4) *

29. The faces of this die show letters A. B, C. D, E and F. Letter on the face opposite to the face showing the
letter B is

A B
B C
D C

(1) E or F (2) E (3) F (4) C

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 Mental Ability
30. The faces of this die show I, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 dots. Number of dots on the face opposite to the face showing 6 dots is

(1) 5 (2) 1 or 5 (3) 1 (4) 4

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ANSWERS
Q u e. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
Ans . 1 1 3 3 3 3 1 1 4 2 4 1 3 4 3
Q u e. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Ans . 2 1 2 3 3 4 1 3 2 4 1 3 4 1 2

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Class IX

Direction : Choose the box that is similar to the box formed from the given sheet of paper (X).

1.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 and 2 only (2) 2 and 3 only (3) 1 and 4 only (4) 1, 2, 3 and 4
2.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 and 2 only (2) 2 and 4 only (3) 2 and 3 only (4) 1 and 4 only
3.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 and 4 only (2) 3 and 4 only (3) 1 and 2 only (4) 2 and 3 only
4.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 and 3 only (2) 1 and 4 only (3) 2 and 4 only (4) 3 and 4 only

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5.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 only (2) 1 and 3 only (3) 1, 3 and 4 only (4) 1, 2, 3 and 4
6.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 only (2) 2 only (3) 1 and 3 only (4) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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 Mental Ability

7.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 only (2) 2 only (3) 3 only (4) 4 only

8.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 only (2) 2 only (3) 3 only (4) 4 only

9.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 2 and 3 only (2) 1, 3 and 4 only (3) 2 and 4 only (4) 1 and 4 only

10.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1, 2 and 3 only (2) 2 and 3 only (3) 1, 3 and 4 only (4) 2, 3 and 4 only
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11.

(X) (1) (2) (3) (4)

(1) 1 and 2 only (2) 1, 2 and 3 only (3) 1 and 3 only (4) 1, 2, 3 and 4
12. How many dots lie opposite to the face having three dots, when the given figure is folded to form a cube?
(1) 2 dots

(2) 3 dots

(3) 4 dots

(4) 6 dots

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Class IX
13. Choose from the given options, the box that will be formed when figure X is folded.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

14.

(1)
× (2)
× (3)
× (4)

15.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

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ANSWERS
Qu e. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Ans . 4 3 1 1 3 2 2 1 2 4 1 4
Qu e. 13 14 15
Ans . 2 3 1

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 Mental Ability

E x . 1 Count the number of blocks in the given solid.

(1) 24 (2) 36 (3) 48 (4) 60

Answer: (2)
Ex pla na tion:
Each layer (say top most) of the solid contains 12 blocks.
There are 3 identical layers in all.
So, the total number of blocks = 3 × 12=36
It is necessary to know basic features of a cubical figure to solve a problem on cube. In the following steps we
have listed out basic features of a cube and all probable situations on which questions on it can be asked in any
examination.
A cube is three dimensional figure, having 8 corners, 6 surfaces and 12 edges. If a cube is painted on all
of its surfaces with any colour and further divided into various smaller cubes, we get following results :

Smaller cubes with three surfaces painted will be present on the corners of the big cube.
Smaller cubes with two surfaces painted will be present on the edges of the big cube.
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Smaller cubes with one surface painted will be present on the surfaces of the big cube.
Smaller cubes with no surface painted will be present inside the big cube.
If a cube is painted on all of its surfaces with a colour and then divided into smaller cubes of equal size,
then after separation, number of smaller cubes so obtained will be calculated as under :

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Class IX
No. of smaller cubes with three surfaces painted = 8
No. of smaller cubes with two surfaces painted = (n – 2) × 12
No. of smaller cubes with one surface painted = (n – 2) 2 × 6
No. of smaller cubes with no surface painted = (n – 2) 3
length of edge of big cube
where, n = No. of divisions on the surface of the bigger cube
length of edge of one smaller cube
Typ e-I
When a cube is painted on all of its surfaces with a single colour and then divided into various smaller cubes
of equal size :
Type II
If a cube is painted on all of its surfaces with different colours and then divided into various smaller cubes
of equal size.
Direction : A cube of side 4 cm is painted black on one of the pairs of opposite surfaces, blue on another
pair of opposite surfaces and red on the remaining pair of opposite surfaces. The cube is now divided into
smaller cubes of equal side of 1 cm each.
1 . No. of smaller cubes with three surfaces painted = 8
(These smaller cubes will have all three surfaces painted with different colours — blue, black and red).
2 . No. of smaller cubes with two surfaces painted = 24.
(a) No. of cubes with two surfaces painted with black and blue colours = 8.

Blue

Black
Red
(b) No. of cubes with two surfaces painted with blue and red colours = 8.
(c) No. of cubes with two surfaces painted with black and red colours = 8.
3 . No. of smaller cubes with one surface painted = 24.
and out of this —
(a) No. of cubes with one surface painted with black colour = 8.
(b) No. of cubes with one surface painted with blue colour = 8.
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(c) No. of cubes with one surface painted with red colour = 8.
Type III
If a cube is painted on its surfaces in such a way that one pair of opposite surfaces is left unpainted.
Directions : A cube of side 4 cm is painted red on one of the pairs of opposite surfaces, green on another
pair of opposite surfaces and one pair of opposite surfaces is left unpainted. Now the cube is divided into
64 smaller cubes of side 1 cm each.

Unpainted

Green
Red
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 Mental Ability
1. No. of smaller cubes with three surfaces painted = 0 (because each smaller cube at the corner is attached
to a surface which is unpainted).
2. No. of smaller cubes with two surfaces painted = No. of cubes present at the corners + No. of cubes
present at 4 edges
= 8 + (n – 2) × 4 = 8 + 8 = 16
3. No. of smaller cubes with one surface painted
= No. of cubes present at the 8 edges + No. of cubes present at the four surfaces
= (n – 2) × 8 + (n – 2) 2 × 4
= 2 × 8 + 4 × 4 = 16 + 16 = 32

4. No. of smaller cubes with no side painted

= No. of cubes on the two unpainted surfaces + No. of cubes present inside the cube
= (n – 2) 2 × 2 + (n – 2) 3 = 4 × 2 + (2) 3 = 8 + 8 = 16
Type IV
If a cube is painted on its surfaces in such a way that one pair of adjacent surfaces is left unpainted.

Direction : A cube of side 4 cm is painted red on the pair of one adjacent surfaces, green on the pair
of other adjacent surfaces and two adjacent surfaces are left unpainted. Now the cube is divided into 64
smaller cubes of side 1 cm each.

1. No. of smaller cubes with three surfaces painted = No. of smaller cubes at two corners = 2

2. No. of smaller cubes with two surfaces painted = No. of smaller cubes at four corners + No. of smaller
cubes at 5 edges

= 4 + (n – 2) × 5 = 4 + 2 × 5 = 4 + 10 = 14
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3. No. of smaller cubes with one surface painted = No. of smaller cubes at four surfaces + No. of smaller
cubes at 6 edges + No. of smaller cubes at two corners.
= (n – 2) 2 × 4 + (n – 2) × 6 + 2 = 4 × 4 + 2 × 6 + 2 = 16 + 12 = 28 + 2 = 30
4. No. of smaller cubes with no surface painted = No. of smaller cubes from inside the big cube + No.
of cubes at two surfaces + No. of cubes at one edge

= (n – 2) 3 + (n – 2) 2 × 2 + (n – 2) = (2) 3 + (2) 2 × 2 + 2 = 8 + 8 + 2 = 18

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Class IX

Direction (Q.1 to Q.5) : Count the number of cubes in the given solid in each of the following questions.

1.

(1) 8 (2) 7 (3) 6 (4) 5

2.

(1) 3 (2) 4 (3) 5 (4) 6

3.

(1) 10 (2) 15 (3) 18 (4) 21

4.

(1) 15 (2) 13 (3) 16 (4) 14

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5.

(1) 18 (2) 16 (3) 12 (4) 11

6. Count the number of cubes in the following figure.

(1) 16 (2) 20 (3) 24 (4) 28

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 Mental Ability
7. How many unit cubes are there in the figure?

(1) 52 (2) 53 (3) 54 (4) 56

8. Number of unit cubes in the given figure is_____.

(1) 25 (2) 26 (3) 27 (4) 28

Directions (Q.9 to Q.12) : Some equal cubes are arranged in the form of a solid block as shown in the adjoining
figure. All the visible surfaces of the block (except bottom) are then painted.

9. How many cubes do not have any of the faces painted?

(1) 27 (2) 32 (3) 36 (4) 40
10. How many cubes have only one face painted?
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(1) 9 (2) 45 (3) 57 (4) 62

11. How many cubes have only two faces painted?
(1) 0 (2) 16 (3) 20 (4) 24
12. How many cubes have only three faces painted?
(1) 4 (2) 12 (3) 16 (4) 20
Directions (Q.13 to Q.18) : A cube is painted red on two adjacent surface and black on the surfaces opposite
to red surfaces and green on the remaining faces. Now the cube is cut into sixty four smaller cubes of equal size.
13. How many smaller cubes have only one surface painted?
(1) 8 (2) 16 (3) 24 (4) 32
14. How many smaller cubes will have no surface painted?
(1) 0 (2) 4 (3) 8 (4) 16
15. How many smaller cubes have less than three surfaces painted?
(1) 8 (2) 24 (3) 28 (4) 48
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Class IX
16. How many smaller cubes have three surfaces painted?
(1) 4 (2) 8 (3) 16 (4) 24
17. How many smaller cubes with two surfaces painted have one face green and one of the adjacent faces black
or red ?
(1) 8 (2) 16 (3) 24 (4) 28
18. How many smaller cubes have at least one surface painted with green colour?
(1) 8 (2) 24 (3) 32 (4) 56
Directions (Q.19 to Q.23) : A cube is coloured red on two opposite faces, blue on two adjacent faces
and yellow on two remaining faces. It is then cut into two halves along the plane parallel to the red faces.
One piece is then cut into four equal cubes and the other one into 32 equal cubes.
19. How many cubes do not have any coloured faces?
(1) 0 (2) 16 (3) 4 (4) 8
20. How many cubes do not have any red faces?
(1) 8 (2) 16 (3) 20 (4) 24
21. How many cubes have at least two coloured faces?
(1) 20 (2) 24 (3) 28 (4) 32
22. How many cubes have each a yellow face with other faces without colour?
(1) 4 (2) 14 (3) 17 (4) 20
23. How many cubes have at least one face painted blue?
(1) 4 (2) 14 (3) 17 (4) 20

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ANSWERS
Q u e. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
A ns. 3 2 3 1 4 3 2 3 1 3 2 3 3 3 4
Q u e. 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
A ns. 2 2 3 3 2 1 1 3

212