Nets

A net of a geometric solid is a two-dimensional (planar) figure that can be folded into a geometric solid. For example, we know that a cube has six sides. Each side of a cube is a square. So if we arrange six squares into a figure that can be folded into a cube, we have a net for a cube.

Here are a few examples of nets of cubes:
Example of a geometric net for a cube 1Example of a geometric net for a cube 2Example of a geometric net for a cube 3

However, not every figure of six squares can be folded into a cube. Here are some figures that are not nets of cubes:
Negative example of a geometric net for a cube 1Negative example of a geometric net for a cube 2Negative example of a geometric net for a cube 3

Nets are useful for find the surface area of a polyhedron, as the following examples illustrate.


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