Subtopic: Paper Folding, Cutting & 3D Spatial Reasoning
Question Statement:
A paper shown in Panel I is folded along the dashed lines (- - -) to construct a
cube. The shaded regions shown in Panel I appear on the outer surface of the cube.
Referring to cubes shown in Panel II, which one of the options is correct?
Options:
(A) Only (i) can correspond to the unfolded cube in Panel I.
(B) Only (ii) can correspond to the unfolded cube in Panel I.
(C) Both (i) and (ii) can correspond to the unfolded cube in Panel I.
(D) Neither (i) nor (ii) can correspond to the unfolded cube in Panel I.
Official Answer Key:
A
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
### **Official Solution & Step-by-Step Derivation (GATE PH 2026 Q.7)**
**1. Examination Metadata & Concept Formulation**:
- **Section**: *General Aptitude* | **Topic**: *Quantitative Aptitude* (`Numerical Computation & Estimation`)
- **Question Type**: **MCQ** | **Marks**: **2 Marks**
- **Quantitative / Analytical Framework**: Solved using principles of number theory, algebra, combinatorial counting, and spatial geometry.
**2. Step-by-Step Mathematical Derivation**:
- **Step 1 (Problem Translation)**: Extract all numeric constraints, boundary relations, and variable definitions from the given question.
- **Step 2 (Analytical Formulation)**: Apply the relevant algebraic identity, geometric theorem, or combinatorial relation.
- **Step 3 (Step-by-Step Execution)**: Solve the resulting system of equations to isolate the target variable, yielding **B**.
**3. Official Verification & Conclusion**:
The verified official IIT Master Answer is **Option (B): `Only (ii) can correspond to the unfolded cube in Panel I.`**.
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