What is the surface area of five 1cm cubes stuck together?

Answer 1

Well, honey, if you've got five 1cm cubes stuck together, you've basically got a 1x1x5 rectangular prism. The surface area of that bad boy is 2(1x1) + 2(1x5) + 2(1x5) = 2 + 10 + 10 = 22 square cm. So, there you have it, darling!

Answer 2

22 cm squared

5 x 1 = 5 [one side 5 cubes long 1 cube high]

5 x 4 = 20 [4 sides]

1 x 1 = 1 [one end of cube]

1 x 2 = 2 [both ends of cube]

20 + 2 = 22

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If there are no partially attached faces, the maximum area is 22 cm2 as above. But a 2x2 square arrangement, with the fifth cube attached anywhere gives 20 cm2.