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Nets of Solids

A net is a flat, 2D shape that folds up to make a 3D solid.

Flattening a Solid

Example 1 — the net of a cube

Describe the net of a cube. 1 A cube has 6 identical square faces 2 These 6 squares are arranged in a cross-like pattern (several common arrangements work) 3 Folding along the shared edges brings the squares together into a cube

Example 2 — the net of a cylinder

Describe the net of a cylinder. 1 A cylinder has 2 circular faces (top and bottom) and 1 curved surface 2 The curved surface unrolls flat into a rectangle 3 The rectangle's width must exactly equal the circle's circumference (2 π r), so it wraps around perfectly to re-form the curved surface

Practice

A cylinder's net is made from which shapes?

Flattening a Solid

Example 1 — the net of a cube

Describe the net of a cube. 1 A cube has 6 identical square faces 2 These 6 squares are arranged in a cross-like pattern (several common arrangements work) 3 Folding along the shared edges brings the squares together into a cube

Example 2 — the net of a cylinder

Describe the net of a cylinder. 1 A cylinder has 2 circular faces (top and bottom) and 1 curved surface 2 The curved surface unrolls flat into a rectangle 3 The rectangle's width must exactly equal the circle's circumference (2 π r), so it wraps around perfectly to re-form the curved surface

Practice

A cylinder's net is made from which shapes?