Sides, corners and cubes — Maths Olympiad practice
Shape questions often ask you to count sides or corners for several shapes at once. Learn how many each shape has, multiply for each kind of shape, then add.
✓ You passed this topic’s test.
How to solve it
Know the shape numbers — “triangle 3, square 4, pentagon 5, hexagon 6, octagon 8; a cube has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners”
Sides: triangle 3, square and rectangle 4, pentagon 5, hexagon 6, octagon 8. A flat shape has as many corners as sides.
Several of one shape: multiply (3 triangles → 3 × 3 = 9 sides).
Two kinds of shape: work each out, then add. A cube has 6 faces, 12 edges and 8 corners.
Use it for: Geometry counting questions in Class 2–5 papers, and spotting shapes around you.
Worked example: How many sides do 3 triangles and 2 hexagons have altogether? → 21
3 triangles: 3 × 3 = 9 sides.
2 hexagons: 2 × 6 = 12 sides.
Altogether: 9 + 12 = 21.
Check: 3 + 3 + 3 + 6 + 6 = 21 ✓
✏️ Practice
Work it out in your head or on paper, type the answer and press Check. Stuck? Press “Show me how”.
Right: 0 · Tried: 0
🏁 Topic 6 test
20 questions. Check each answer, then go to the next one. Get 16 or more right to pass.
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🔺 Shape Counter badge when you pass — and a certificate when you finish all 7 topics of
Part 1 · Class 2–4. You can still take the test without signing in.
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