You have a six-sided cube and six cans of paint, each a different color.
You have a six-sided cube and six cans of paint, each a different color. You may not mix colors of paint. How many distinct ways can you paint the cube using a different color for each side? (If you can reorient a cube to look like another cube, then the two cubes are not distinct.)
Answer/Solution
30
Steps/Work
Paint one of the faces red and make it the top face.
5 options for the bottom face.
Now, four side faces can be painted in (4-1)! = 3! = 6 ways (circular arrangements of 4 colors).
Total = 5*6 = 30.
Answer: B.
5 options for the bottom face.
Now, four side faces can be painted in (4-1)! = 3! = 6 ways (circular arrangements of 4 colors).
Total = 5*6 = 30.
Answer: B.