Last visit was: 18 Nov 2025, 19:49 It is currently 18 Nov 2025, 19:49
Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,663
Own Kudos:
20,162
 [6]
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,663
Kudos: 20,162
 [6]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
5
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 8,423
Own Kudos:
4,979
 [1]
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,423
Kudos: 4,979
 [1]
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 06 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,849
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,849
Kudos: 8,236
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
avatar
RupamPaul13
Joined: 08 Apr 2019
Last visit: 03 Nov 2020
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
Posts: 24
Kudos: 9
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archit3110
giving a try
visualize that the cut of the cake along three sides is done on one of the faces along the digaonal

area = 2^3 ; 8
and digaonal ; 2√2
let three pieces be cut such that each has length ; √2 so we get two ∆ √2:√2:2
area of ∆ ; 1/2 * √2*√2 ; 1 since two ∆ are there so 1*2 ; 2
left area of pastry cube; 8-2 ; 6
IMO B


EgmatQuantExpert
e-GMAT Question of the Week - 46

A pastry is in the shape of a cube, that has a side length of 2 metres. If a portion of it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube, then what is the area of remaining larger piece of the pastry?

    A. 4
    B. 6
    C. 16
    D. 18
    E. 24


Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
Kinshook
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 03 Jun 2019
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 5,793
Own Kudos:
5,509
 [4]
Given Kudos: 161
Location: India
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
WE:Engineering (Transportation)
Products:
GMAT 1: 690 Q50 V34
Posts: 5,793
Kudos: 5,509
 [4]
3
Kudos
Add Kudos
1
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EgmatQuantExpert
e-GMAT Question of the Week - 46

A pastry is in the shape of a cube, that has a side length of 2 metres. If a portion of it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube, then what is the area of remaining larger piece of the pastry?

    A. 4
    B. 6
    C. 16
    D. 18
    E. 24

[url=https://e-gmat.com/quant-workshop-free-session/?
utm_source=GC&utm_medium=questions_q&utm_campaign=free_session&utm_content=quant_workshop&utm_term=GCquestions_q_fs_qow_qw][/url]

Total surface area of original cube = 6 * 4 = 24 sq m
Cut area = 3 * 1/2 *(2*2) = 6 sq m
Since there are 3 right angled triangles of base 2 & height 2 m cut from the original cube
Thus remaining area = 24 - 6 = 18 sq m

Alternatively remaining area = 3 * (2*2) + 3 * 1/2 (2*2) = 18 sq m
since there are 3 sides 0f 2*2 sq m = 12 sq m
and there are 3 right angles triangles of are = 3 * 1/2 (2*2) = 6 sq m

The solutions do not include area of equilateral triangle generated as a result of the cut = 2\(\sqrt{3}\).
Attachments

IMG_1402.jpg
IMG_1402.jpg [ 500.91 KiB | Viewed 4204 times ]

avatar
RupamPaul13
Joined: 08 Apr 2019
Last visit: 03 Nov 2020
Posts: 24
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 43
Location: India
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
GMAT 1: 700 Q50 V34
Posts: 24
Kudos: 9
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Kinshook
EgmatQuantExpert
e-GMAT Question of the Week - 46

A pastry is in the shape of a cube, that has a side length of 2 metres. If a portion of it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube, then what is the area of remaining larger piece of the pastry?

    A. 4
    B. 6
    C. 16
    D. 18
    E. 24

[url=https://e-gmat.com/quant-workshop-free-session/?
utm_source=GC&utm_medium=questions_q&utm_campaign=free_session&utm_content=quant_workshop&utm_term=GCquestions_q_fs_qow_qw][/url]

Total surface area of original cube = 6 * 4 = 24 sq m
Cut area = 3 * 1/2 *(2*2) = 6 sq m
Since there are 3 right angled triangles of base 2 & height 2 m cut from the original cube
Thus remaining area = 24 - 6 = 18 sq m

Alternatively remaining area = 3 * (2*2) + 3 * 1/2 (2*2) = 18 sq m
since there are 3 sides 0f 2*2 sq m = 12 sq m
and there are 3 right angles triangles of are = 3 * 1/2 (2*2) = 6 sq m

The solutions do not include area of equilateral triangle generated as a result of the cut = 2\(\sqrt{3}\).

Posted from my mobile device
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,663
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,663
Kudos: 20,162
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nick1816
We will get smaller piece, a tetrahedron having 3 faces as right angle isosceles triangles whose equal sides are 2 cm, and fourth face is equilateral triangle having side \(2\sqrt{2}\).
We can't find the area of a 3-D figure. It should be either volume, curved surface area or total surface area.

Hi @nikh1816,

When we say area, it implicitly means TSA. Anyway, we have edited the question to remove all the ambiguity.

Thanks & Regards,
User avatar
Archit3110
User avatar
Major Poster
Joined: 18 Aug 2017
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 8,423
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 243
Status:You learn more from failure than from success.
Location: India
Concentration: Sustainability, Marketing
GMAT Focus 1: 545 Q79 V79 DI73
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
GPA: 4
WE:Marketing (Energy)
GMAT Focus 2: 645 Q83 V82 DI81
Posts: 8,423
Kudos: 4,979
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EgmatQuantExpert
nick1816
We will get smaller piece, a tetrahedron having 3 faces as right angle isosceles triangles whose equal sides are 2 cm, and fourth face is equilateral triangle having side \(2\sqrt{2}\).
We can't find the area of a 3-D figure. It should be either volume, curved surface area or total surface area.

Hi @nikh1816,

When we say area, it implicitly means TSA. Anyway, we have edited the question to remove all the ambiguity.

Thanks & Regards,
Sandeep.

EgmatQuantExpert ; thanks for editing the question .. else considering volume as answer would have been 6 ...
nick1816 :)
User avatar
nick1816
User avatar
Retired Moderator
Joined: 19 Oct 2018
Last visit: 06 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,849
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 707
Location: India
Posts: 1,849
Kudos: 8,236
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Thanks for editing. But if we're considering TSA, then we should not exclude the area of the equilateral triangle that's left after we removed the cutting portion. None of the options is correct in that scenario. That's why i was confused. Imo question is poorly written and designed.

Archit3110
EgmatQuantExpert
nick1816
We will get smaller piece, a tetrahedron having 3 faces as right angle isosceles triangles whose equal sides are 2 cm, and fourth face is equilateral triangle having side \(2\sqrt{2}\).
We can't find the area of a 3-D figure. It should be either volume, curved surface area or total surface area.

Hi @nikh1816,

When we say area, it implicitly means TSA. Anyway, we have edited the question to remove all the ambiguity.

Thanks & Regards,
Sandeep.

EgmatQuantExpert ; thanks for editing the question .. else considering volume as answer would have been 6 ...
nick1816 :)
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,663
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,663
Kudos: 20,162
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
nick1816
Thanks for editing. But if we're considering TSA, then we should not exclude the area of the equilateral triangle that's left after we removed the cutting portion. None of the options is correct in that scenario. That's why i was confused. Imo question is poorly written and designed.

Hi nick1816,

Thanks for pointing out the issue.

Apologies, we have edited the question now.

Thanks & Regards,
User avatar
Vinit800HBS
Joined: 29 Dec 2018
Last visit: 18 Nov 2025
Posts: 91
Own Kudos:
237
 [1]
Given Kudos: 195
Location: India
GRE 1: Q170 V163
Expert
Expert reply
GRE 1: Q170 V163
Posts: 91
Kudos: 237
 [1]
1
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
The question is still incorrect EgmatQuantExpert

Because the box is hollow, on cutting it along the given dimensions, the inside portion will get exposed and thus will increase the area. In fact, whatever is the surface area of the outside portion, the same area would be inside after cutting the hollow box.

Still, the question is wrong. Please check

Posted from my mobile device
avatar
aliakberza
Joined: 11 Feb 2018
Last visit: 21 Feb 2020
Posts: 41
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 147
Posts: 41
Kudos: 110
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Archit3110
giving a try
visualize that the cut of the cake along three sides is done on one of the faces along the digaonal

TSA; 6*s^2 ; 24
and digaonal ; 2√2
along the diagonal cake is cut gives us three ∆ ; area;; 1/2 * 2*2 ; 2 *3 ; 6
left area l 24-6 = 18
IMO D


EgmatQuantExpert
e-GMAT Question of the Week - 46

A pastry is in the shape of a cube, that has a side length of 2 metres. If a portion of it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube, then what is the area of remaining larger piece of the pastry?

    A. 4
    B. 6
    C. 16
    D. 18
    E. 24


Hi Archit3110. Thanks for the solution. Could you please explain to me why it would be 3 triangles and not 4? what about the base of the shape is that not the 4th side. I followed the same method but when I tried to visualize the shape, to me the it seemed that the shape would have four faces. What am I missing?

Thanks in advance!
User avatar
EgmatQuantExpert
User avatar
e-GMAT Representative
Joined: 04 Jan 2015
Last visit: 02 Apr 2024
Posts: 3,663
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 165
Expert
Expert reply
Posts: 3,663
Kudos: 20,162
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post

Solution


Given:
    • A hollow box is in the shape of a cube that has a side length of 2 meters
    • A portion of it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube

To find:
    • The total surface area of remaining larger piece of the box

Approach and Working out:
    • A hollow box has all sides closed, and the total surface = 6 * area of a face.

Now, let us try to visualize the hollow box after it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube.



    • From the third figure, we can see that the total surface area of the larger piece = \(3 * area of a face + 3 * \frac{area of a face}{2}\)

Note: we should not consider the area of the triangle in total surface area, since the box is hollow.
    • Area of a face = \((side length)^2 = 2^2 = 4\)
    • Therefore, the total surface area of the larger piece = \(3 * 4 + 3 * \frac{4}{2} = 12 + 6 = 18\) sq. meters

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.

Answer: D

User avatar
DarkHorse2019
Joined: 29 Dec 2018
Last visit: 07 May 2020
Posts: 89
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 10
Location: India
WE:Marketing (Real Estate)
Posts: 89
Kudos: 272
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
EgmatQuantExpert

Solution


Given:
    • A hollow box is in the shape of a cube that has a side length of 2 meters
    • A portion of it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube

To find:
    • The total surface area of remaining larger piece of the box

Approach and Working out:
    • A hollow box has all sides closed, and the total surface = 6 * area of a face.

Now, let us try to visualize the hollow box after it is cut along three adjacent face diagonals of the cube.



    • From the third figure, we can see that the total surface area of the larger piece = \(3 * area of a face + 3 * \frac{area of a face}{2}\)

Note: we should not consider the area of the triangle in total surface area, since the box is hollow.
    • Area of a face = \((side length)^2 = 2^2 = 4\)
    • Therefore, the total surface area of the larger piece = \(3 * 4 + 3 * \frac{4}{2} = 12 + 6 = 18\) sq. meters

Hence, the correct answer is Option D.

Answer: D



This problem is so easy yet so difficult.

errr. Let me re-phrase my sentence :-D

This problem is so difficult if you cannot visualize the diagram, and so easy when you are able to visualize (or draw) it correctly. Thank you so much for the diagram EgmatQuantExpert :angel: :please
User avatar
bumpbot
User avatar
Non-Human User
Joined: 09 Sep 2013
Last visit: 04 Jan 2021
Posts: 38,589
Own Kudos:
Posts: 38,589
Kudos: 1,079
Kudos
Add Kudos
Bookmarks
Bookmark this Post
Hello from the GMAT Club BumpBot!

Thanks to another GMAT Club member, I have just discovered this valuable topic, yet it had no discussion for over a year. I am now bumping it up - doing my job. I think you may find it valuable (esp those replies with Kudos).

Want to see all other topics I dig out? Follow me (click follow button on profile). You will receive a summary of all topics I bump in your profile area as well as via email.
Moderators:
Math Expert
105355 posts
Tuck School Moderator
805 posts