Question

Akash's birthday cake is in the form of a $4 \times 4 \times 4$ inch cube. The cake has icing on the top and the four side faces, and no icing on the bottom. Suppose the cake is cut into $64$ smaller cubes, each measuring $1 \times 1 \times 1$ inch, as shown below. How many small pieces will have icing on exactly two sides?

$12$

$16$

$18$

$20$

$24$

Video solution:

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Written solution:

In the top layer, the non-corner edge pieces have icing on exactly two sides. There are $4$ edges with $2$ such pieces each, for $8$ pieces.

In each of the other $3$ layers, the only pieces with exactly two iced sides are the $4$ corner pieces. This adds $3\cdot4=12$ pieces.

The total is $8+12=20.$

Thus, the correct answer is D.

2020 AMC 8 Problem 9

Video solution:

Written solution:

Problem 9 in Other Years