Answer:
Explanation:
The cubes have sides of 2 cm, 3 cm and 4 cm respectively.
Their face area of the cubes is 4 cm², 9 cm² and 16 cm² respectively.
Total surface area of each cube is:
- Side 2 cm - 6*(2*2) = 24 cm²,
- Side 3 cm - 6*(3*3) = 54 cm²,
- Side 4 cm - 6*(4*4) = 96 cm².
Total of three cubes:
When you glue the cubes together you lose an area equal to double face area of the smaller cube from the total surface area.
Possible decrease, provided full faces area covered:
- 2 cm cube with the other two ⇒ loss of four 2x2 faces 4*4 = 16 cm²
- 3 cm or 4 cm cube with the other two ⇒ loss of two 3x3 and two 2x2 faces 2(9+4) = 26 cm²
The least possible surface area is: