What is the minimum number of cuts required to divide a cuboid into 8 equal cuboids?

Quantitative Aptitude ·Previously asked in SSC CGL 2025

View the full solved paper: SSC CGL 2025 Tier I — 17 Sep 2025 (Shift 1)

Question

What is the minimum number of cuts required to divide a cuboid into 8 equal cuboids?

  1. A. 2
  2. B. 3 (Correct answer)
  3. C. 5
  4. D. 4

Correct Answer

Option B — 3

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is 3.

Key Points

  • To split a cuboid into 8 equal cuboids you need 2×2×2, i.e. two pieces along each of the three dimensions — one cut along the length, one along the breadth, one along the height. That's 3 cuts.
  • Generalise: to get 2×2×2 = 8 pieces you need one cut per axis.
  • Trying to reach 8 with fewer than 3 planar cuts is impossible because each new axis needs its own cut.

Topics covered: SSC CGL maths Quantitative Aptitude SSC CGL 17 Sep 2025 Q62