Solid shapes · Usually met around P5
Front, side and top views
Each line shows only its tallest.
How to do it
Method
Each line shows only its tallest
Back row 3, 2, 1 high → 3 + 2 + 1 = 6 squares from the front
Another way
Write a height plan first
Back row 3 2 1, front row 2 1 0
In full
The same solid looks different from different sides. From the front: in each column across you see only the tallest stack, so write the heights left to right. From the right: the front row is on the left and the back row on the right, and you see the tallest in each row. From above: you see one square for each place that has cubes, the back row at the top and the front row at the bottom. Way 1: write each stack's height on a plan first, then draw each view from the plan. Way 2: imagine standing on that side and leave out every cube hidden behind another. Going back from views to a solid, a view only tells you the tallest in each line, so the number of cubes can have a fewest and a most.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
The solid is built of small cubes (every column stands on the ground). How many squares do you see from the front?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 12 squares
Each column across shows only its tallest stack: 6 + 4 + 2 = 12.
Example 2
The solid is built of small cubes (every column stands on the ground). How many squares do you see from above?
Show the answer and working
Answer: 5 squares
Each place with cubes shows one square, however tall: 3 at the back, 2 at the front, 5 in all.
Example 3
The solid is built of small cubes (every column stands on the ground). From the right you see 8 squares.
True or false?
Show the answer and working
Answer: False
From the right, the front row's tallest is 2 and the back row's 4: 2 + 4 = 6.
Practise it in the game →Solid shapes · Free to start, unlimited questions, no download