May 2026
Problem of the Month

The Rectangular Box

A rectangular wooden box measuring 8 cm by 5 cm by 2 cm is painted blue on all six faces and then cut into 80 cubes, each with an edge of 1 cm.

How many of these cubes are painted blue on exactly one of their faces?

Solution to the Problem:

The answer is 36 cubes.

The cubes form a 3 cm by 6 cm by 2 cm block in the central part of the block.

Correctly solved by:

1. Kamal Lohia	Hisar, Haryana, India
2. Eva Hull	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
3. Dr. Hari Kishan	D.N. College, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
4. Ivy Joseph	Pune, Maharashtra, India
5. Colin (Yowie) Bowey	Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
6. Johanna Villeda	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
7. Davit Banana	Istanbul, Turkey
8. Dani-jo Ward	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
9. Raygan Ball	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
10. Dakoda Perrigo	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
11. Marely Lopez Serna	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
12. Leo Gutierrez	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
13. Yatzil Fregoso	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
14. Shyann Page	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
15. Justice Espinoza	Central High School, Grand Junction, Colorado, USA
16. Kelly Stubblefield	Mobile, Alabama, USA

Send any comments or questions to: David Pleacher