Shortcut Trick
Total pieces formed by making cuts along three perpendicular axes is (x + 1)(y + 1)(z + 1) = 8.
To minimize total cuts (x + y + z), the factors must be as close to each other as possible.
The closest integer factors for 8 are 2 × 2 × 2.
Thus, x + 1 = 2 ⇒ x = 1, y = 1, and z = 1.
Total minimum cuts = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 cuts.
∴ The correct answer is 3 cuts.
Alternate Method
Given:
A cuboid is to be divided into 8 equal cuboids.
Formula Used:
Number of pieces = (x + 1) × (y + 1) × (z + 1)
Where x, y, and z are the number of cuts along the length, breadth, and height respectively.
3 Cuts = 8 Equal Cuboids
Cut 1
Cut 2
Cut 3
Calculations:
⇒ Total pieces required = 8
⇒ (x + 1) × (y + 1) × (z + 1) = 8
⇒ To find the minimum number of cuts (x + y + z), we must express 8 as the product of three integers as close to each other as possible.
⇒ Let us evaluate the possible combinations for factors of 8:
⇒ Case 1: 8 × 1 × 1 → x = 7, y = 0, z = 0 → Total cuts = 7 + 0 + 0 = 7
⇒ Case 2: 4 × 2 × 1 → x = 3, y = 1, z = 0 → Total cuts = 3 + 1 + 0 = 4
⇒ Case 3: 2 × 2 × 2 → x = 1, y = 1, z = 1 → Total cuts = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3
⇒ The absolute minimum number of total cuts is obtained in Case 3.
⇒ Minimum cuts = 3.
∴ The correct answer is 3 cuts.
Additional Information
Maximum Pieces with N cuts
To maximize pieces for a given number of total cuts N, distribute the cuts equally among the three dimensions so that x ≈ y ≈ z ≈ N ÷ 3.
Total Painted Faces in a Cut Cube
If a fully painted larger cube is cut into n3 identical smaller cubes, the number of smaller cubes with exactly 3 painted faces is always 8 (located at the corners).
Zero Face Painted Cubes
The number of completely unpainted internal identical cubes is determined using the formula (n − 2)3, where n is the number of parts cut along one edge.