Cube counting question (image attached)

DATBooster | The Ultimate DAT Resource
This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
healthcaree

healthcaree

Full Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
363
Reaction score
0
Members do not see this ad.
i'm having a problem with seeing this one cube that i marked in red.

since there is no line on the original (left) to indicate that that is a cube or an empty spot, don't we always assume that there is NO CUBE unless it is needed for the support?

this question was from achiever test#2. i've been getting 23-24 on topscore, but 18-19 on achiever. goodness achiever problems are hectic!

(image on the right is the solution image)

qcube.jpg
 
Sort by date Sort by votes
healthcaree said:
i'm having a problem with seeing this one cube that i marked in red.

since there is no line on the original (left) to indicate that that is a cube or an empty spot, don't we always assume that there is NO CUBE unless it is needed for the support?

this question was from achiever test#2. i've been getting 23-24 on topscore, but 18-19 on achiever. goodness achiever problems are hectic!

(image on the right is the solution image)

qcube.jpg
Click to expand...

I would assume that there is one there since there is no indication that there is not one there. If you try to draw one that is not there, it would look the same as if there is one there so you count the cube. The space across that cube to the left clearly shows that there is not one there so taking that example of one not there, you can rule out that there is a cube actually there.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DQLEUCD said:
I would assume that there is one there since there is no indication that there is not one there. If you try to draw one that is not there, it would look the same as if there is one there so you count the cube. The space across that cube to the left clearly shows that there is not one there so taking that example of one not there, you can rule out that there is a cube actually there.
Click to expand...


Sorry, but what you just said makes no sense at all.

I agree, this question is pretty ambiguous. I got a similar one on CDP and I guess if the cube/lack of cube in question is surrounded on all sides by cubes, like in this case, assume there is a cube there.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
There are numerous questions on CDP that are like this. There is even one question where the cubes are floating in the air.

Technically according to the rules, the cubes should either: not be drawn in that manner, or there is no cube there.
I think that the cubes should always be drawn so that it is clear whether or not there is a cube there, but I have not taken the real DAT so I don't know.

I'm getting perfects in every section pretty much except cube counting on cdp because they like to do things like that and to float cubes.

Also some of the cubes on cdp don't follow proper linear perspective, some of the lines curve or do not converge onto the same point!!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Veloce said:
There are numerous questions on CDP that are like this. There is even one question where the cubes are floating in the air.
Click to expand...

No, there aren't. Some of these "illusions" look like they are, but you just have to look at them the right way. Cubes aren't floating. Post a picture and we can show you.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'll have to look it up when I get home, but it's on the second test. There is a set that looks like only the right half is touching the bottom.
Also there are some that to me clearly should not have cubes because they are hidden and not structural, yet cdp puts them there.

I've been geting 23's so It would really help if I could figure out these cdp cubes!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
taking the DAT twice, I realized that questions like this that are so ambiguous.. NEVER comes up on the real DAT. but it won't hurt to practice =P
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
healthcaree is right about these ambiguous types of cube counting problems not showing up on the real DAT, but it never hurts to be that much better at these and that much more prepared.

Here's the one I think you're talking about. It comes up a lot on the forum actually. I put together a TFE view to help you visualize it. It's not floating once you can see it correctly.

figb.jpg
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
That's one of them. I could tell it wasn't floating, but it does seem to have an extra cube.

If it followed the ADA's rules for non structural cubes not being there, the cube I marked with the arrow should not be there.

cubes.jpg





This is the floating one. Now that I look at it more carefully, I can see what it's supposed to be.

I drew some orange i
Screenshot2010-07-26at115018PM.jpg


n to show what is really going on, but this is not drawn with proper 2 point perspective. If drawn correctly there would be no possibility for it to be floating. I looked at the ADA sample test, and all of the cube questions are drawn with proper 2 point perspective.

This one also pisses me off because it has the same extra cube problem the one above it has. There should be no cubes behind the initial face because they are not structural! The instructions clearly state: the only hidden cubes are those required to support other cubes.
Haha these pat questions are getting me all riled up.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
for the one that gigawatt posted, i think the key is to assume a cube for continuity purpose. probably the same reasoning for the oringal post i made?

now that i think about it, i think my kaplan instructor did tell me about the continuiation of the cubes + the support purpose...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
That makes sense.

I was thinking about it, and I can't remember any examples where there are 2 sets of cubes, so they also have to connect.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
I'm not going to stress over it, my PAT score is strong enough even if I miss a few cube questions i'll be ok. :scared:
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
DQLEUCD said:
I would assume that there is one there since there is no indication that there is not one there. If you try to draw one that is not there, it would look the same as if there is one there so you count the cube. The space across that cube to the left clearly shows that there is not one there so taking that example of one not there, you can rule out that there is a cube actually there.
Click to expand...

How is it possible that the vertical column of cubes on the very right is being held only by the edges with another cube. I don't see how else this part can "glue" to the rest of the structure! Someone please help
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

devinatlin
cDAT Practice Manual Invalid Cube Counting Question
Replies
0
Views
1K
devinatlin
devinatlin
capsoak
Another DAT question
Replies
1
Views
991
DAT Destroyer
DAT Destroyer
capsoak
Question about aerobic and anaerobic respiration
Replies
1
Views
2K
DAT Destroyer
DAT Destroyer
benjamin_obtainer
PAT Keyhole Inversion Question
Replies
1
Views
2K
iloveTeeth1999
iloveTeeth1999
Faris_
  • Question Question
ambiguity in a cube counting question.
Replies
2
Views
730
Faris_
Faris_
Top