1985 AIME Problems/Problem 15

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Problem

Three 12 cm $\times$12 cm squares are each cut into two pieces $A$ and $B$, as shown in the first figure below, by joining the midpoints of two adjacent sides. These six pieces are then attached to a regular hexagon, as shown in the second figure, so as to fold into a polyhedron. What is the volume (in $\mathrm{cm}^3$) of this polyhedron?

AIME 1985 Problem 15.png

Solution

Note that gluing two of the given polyhedra together along a hexagonal face (rotated $60^\circ$ from each other) yields a cube, so the volume is $\frac12 \cdot 12^3 = 864$.

See also