Hi! I am Studyfin. Today, we will explore how flat, paper shapes can fold up to build solid 3D shapes!
A net is a flat, two-dimensional pattern. If you fold it along the lines, it turns into a three-dimensional solid shape.
Imagine a cardboard box. If you unfold it and lay it flat on the table, you get its net. A cube net is made of six squares connected together.
Let us look at a different shape. A triangular prism net has three rectangles in the middle and two triangles on the sides. When folded, the triangles form the ends.
✏️ Worked example
Maya has a flat shape with 1 square in the middle and 4 triangles attached to its outer edges. What 3D shape does this net make when folded?
Identify the flat shapes in the net. We have one square and four triangles.
Think about what happens when you fold the four triangles upward.
The square stays flat on the bottom. This is the base of our shape.
The four triangles fold up and meet at a single point at the top.
A shape with a square base and triangular sides that meet at a point is a square pyramid!
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