What is a net?

A net is a two-dimensional shape that can be cut out and folded along its lines to build a solid, three-dimensional shape. The net of a cube is six squares joined together; folding it up makes the box.

Examples

• Six squares in a cross shape fold into a cube.
• A cereal box flattened out shows the net of a cuboid.
• The net of a square-based pyramid is a square with a triangle on each side.

Quick facts

• A cube has several different nets that all fold into the same box.
• Every face of the solid shape appears once in its net.