1991 AMC 8 Problem 15

Attempt Problem 15 of the 1991 AMC 8 below, then check your answer against the professionally curated solution from LIVE by Po-Shen Loh. You can also try the full timed exam, view all 1991 AMC 8 solutions, or check the answer key.

All problems are used with official legal permission of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA).

15.

All six sides of a rectangular solid were rectangles. A one-foot cube was cut out of the rectangular solid as shown. The total number of square feet in the surface of the new solid is how many more or less than that of the original solid?
22 less
11 less
the same
11 more
22 more
Answer: C
Concepts:surface area3D geometry
Small hint:
Cutting the cube removes some faces that were on the surface but uncovers new ones; compare the two amounts
Big hint:
The cube’s top, front, and back faces were on the surface (33 square feet removed); the notch’s floor and its two side walls become new surface (33 square feet added)
Solution:
The removed cube had three faces on the surface of the solid (top, front, and back), so 33 square feet of surface are removed.
Cutting it out exposes three new faces (the floor of the notch and its two side walls), adding 33 square feet. The surface area is unchanged.
Thus, the correct answer is C .
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