The Wondrous Cube in a Cube

Delaney Bulas & Kyle Cooper

Mr. Acre & Mrs. Gravel

GAT/IDS 9C

22 January 2018

The Wondrous Cube in a Cube

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The cube in a cube is such an intricate project that requires time and preciseness. The

project seemed very tempting, but it got quite easier while constructing it. Being made out of a

6in by 6in square, the paper was folded precisely to be used as a side for the outer cube. Each

fold and measurement had to be precise, because if not, the inner cube would not fit in the outer

cube. The expertise used to construct the cubes can be used in everyday jobs, such as an architect

or an estimator. Using that knowledge, the goal was to construct two cubes, and find the surface

area and volume of both.

Finding the Side Lengths of the Outer Cube

6
in
3

i
n
Figure 1. Step One (Outer Cube)

First, fold the paper in half, color inside, causing a crease down the middle of the paper.

Then, unfold the paper and fold each side to the crease in the center. Because the whole side is 3

in, one flap would be 1.5 in long.

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1. 1.
5√ 5
2 in
in

Figure 2. Step Two (Outer Cube)

Fold the corner of each flap to the top of the paper, forming a right triangle. Rotate the

paper 180 degrees and do the same thing to the other conor. Because the two sides lengths of the

triangle stayed the same and are equal, we can consider this triangle to be a 45 - 45 - 90 triangle.

Using the special properties of the 45 - 45 - 90 triangle, the hypotenuse length is 1.5√ ❑ in.

3√2
in

6
in

Figure 3. Step Three (Outer Cube)

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Next, fold the bottom, unfolded cornoor, to the top of the paper causing the hypotunes

and the side lengths to be doubled in length. Therefore, if the two side lengths were originally 3

in, they are now 6 in. Also, if the hypotenuse was originally 1.5√ ❑ in, it is now 3√ ❑ in.

3√
2
in

3√
2
in
Figure 4. Step Four (Outer Cube)

Next, fold the bottom, unfolded corner on the opposite side, to the top of the other side

causing the length to be congruent to the opposite length which is 3√ ❑ in.

1.5√
2 in
3√2
in

Figure 5. Step Five (Outer Cube)

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Next, fold the paper completely in half long ways. This causes the bottom length to

remain the same length at 3√ ❑ in. Also, when folding it, iot caused the top length to be cut in

half. Therefore if it was originally 3√ ❑, the new top length would be 1.5√ ❑

3√2
in
Figure 6. Step Six (Outer Cube)

Lastly, fold the outside squares in half diagonally, making a 45 - 45 - 90 triangle.

Finding the Side Lengths of the Outer Cube

6
in
3
i
n

Figure 7. Step One (Inner Cube)

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First fold the paper in half hotdog style, color out. By doing this, it causes the one side to

remain the same at 6 in, and it cause the side folded in half to be half in length. Therefore, the

one side length would be 3 in.

3√2
in
3
3 in
in
Figure 8. Step Two (Inner Cube)

Next, fold the one corner of the paper to the top of the paper forming a triangle. Not only

does it form a triangle, it forms a special 45 - 45 - 90 triangle. Based on the special triangle

properties, it causes the hypotenuse length to be a total of 3√ ❑ in. Rotate the paper 180 degrees

and do the same to the opposite side.

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1.5√
2 in

Figure 9. Step Three (Inner Cube)

Lastly, fold the two triangles together causing the hypotenuse to be cut in half and

become the side of the triangle. If the hypotenuse was originally 3√ ❑ in, the new side length

would be 1.5√ ❑ in.

Finding the Area of the Inner and Outer Cubes

Surface Area(SA) = (6) s2❑❑ Formula for Area of Square

A = 6¿¿ Substitution Property

A = 108 ¿2 Multiplication Property

Figure 10. Surface Area of the Outer Cube (Without Subtracting the Empty Space)

To find the surface area of the outer cube, find the area of of one side of the cube by

multiplying the sides together(18). After that, take the product(18) and multiply it by the number

of sides(6) to get the surface area of (108 ¿2).

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Surface Area of Empty Space(SA)= (6)s 2 Formula for SA of Empty Space

SA= 6¿ Substitution Property

SA=6(4.5) Multiplication Property

SA= 27¿2 Multiplication Property

Figure 11. Surface Area of the Outer Cube’s Empty Space

To find the area of the cubes empty side, multiply the two sides of the square together

(4.5). Then multiply the product (4.5) to the number of sides (6), to get an answer of 27¿2 .

Surface Area of Inner Cube(SA)= (6)s 2 Formula for SA of Inner Cube

SA= 6¿ Substitution Property

SA=6(4.5) Multiplication Property

SA= 27¿2 Multiplication Property

Figure 12. Surface Area of Inner Cube

To find the surface area of the inner cube, multiply two sides together to get an answer of

4.5. Then, multiply your product by the total number of sides, which is 6. When multiplying the

two together, the answer becomes 27 ¿3 .

Total Surface Area of Outer Cube(TSA)= SAOuter Cube- SA Empty Space+ SA Inner Cube Formula

TSA= 108 - 27 + 27 Substitution Property

TSA= 108 ¿2 Addition Property

Figure 12. Surface Area of the Outer Cube Without the Empty Space
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To be able to find the surface area without the empty space, add the surface area of the

empty space (27) to the surface area of the large cube (108) to find the total surface area of the

cube which is (108¿2 ).

The Volume of the Cube in a Cube

Volume (V) = Side 3 Formula to Find the Volume of the Cube

V = 1.5√ ❑❑3 Substitution Property

V = 6.75√ ❑ ¿3 Multiplication Property

Figure 13. Volume of Inner Cube

The figure above shows how to find the area of the cube. Since the formula is side❑3 and

the side length is 1.5√ ❑ in, it cause the volume to be 6.75√ ❑ ¿3 .

Volume (V) = Side 3 Formula to Find the Volume of the Cube

V = 3√ ❑❑3 Substitution Property

V = 54 √ ❑ ¿3 Multiplication Property
Figure 14. Volume of Outer Cube

Use the same formula as in Figure 13. Therefore, if the side length is 3√ ❑, the final

product would be 54√ ❑ ¿3 .

Total Volume (TV) = V Outer Cube- V Inner Cube Formula to Find Total Volume

TV = 54 √ ❑ - 6.75 Substitution Property

TV = 47.25√ ❑ ¿3 Subtraction Property

Figure 15. Volume of Empty Space
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To find the total volume, subtract the amount of the small cube (6.25) from the amount of

the larger cube (54). The reason for this is, to find all of the space in the outer cube that is not

occupied by the inside cube. For that reason, subtract the sum of the little cube from the larger

cube. When doing that the answer becomes 47.25√ ❑ ¿3 .

Conclusion

To wrap things up, the cube in a cube project can help students learn how to construct a

3D figure and how to find the measurements, surface area, and volume of the cube without

actually measuring it. Just by knowing the measurement of one side(6 in in this case) of the

square origami paper, the other measurements of the different sides, the surface area of the

outer/inner cube, and the volume of the outer/inner cube can be found. These skills that were

learned during the cube in a cube project can be helpful for those who want to become an

engineer or architect. Some errors could occur, changing the actual measurements of the cube,

which could include folding the paper wrong, not making the folds/creases sharp enough, or

incorrectly assembling the cube. Because of possible human error, the cube in a cube that was

constructed will not be the exact measurements that were calculated unless the cube in a cube is

folded and constructed perfectly. It can also be found that the inner cube to outer cube ratio is

1:8, which means that 8 inner cubes could fit inside of the larger cube. In the end, the complexity

of the cube in a cube project demonstrates how math is everywhere.