CDP Cubes Help

[xatlasb]

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I just did my first practice PAT on CDP.

Granted I just learned what the different types of problems there are on the PAT and how they are basically done.

I had a question about the cube counting. How can you count all the cubes? From the angle it was given on some of my questions, including the one I attached, I apparently wasn't able to accurately count the total number of cubes.

Would someone be able to show me how they'd count the number of cubes here?

Thanks so much!

Also I got a 15 on the first one and am feeling a bit discouraged, but hopefully that's how others started off too with their first one? Also had to do 90 minutes, and still didn't even get a chance to get to the pattern folding ones...

 

[chlrbwls]

You always imagine that there are no randomly empty spots.

First side you see you can count easily 9

the pole in the back you count 3

The platform connecting these two should be counted as 3 by 2 (6) as you imagine the two blocks are hidden from you

Therefore you have a total of 18

 

[pfg459]

The problem is, if I remember correctly, the blocks connecting the two columns are NOT 3x2.

I remember this problem in crack DAT PAT test #1 I believe...

I have the same questions.. Sometimes there ARE blocks in the "invisible spaces" and sometimes there ARE NOT... CDP does this often, and I have no idea how you are supposed to count them correctly if they keep changing the 'rules.'

 

[IsaacYankem]

The consensus on SDN is that CDP has a few of these 'illusion' cube problems.

For the actual DAT, the rules explicitly state that "the only hidden cubes are those required so support other cubes"

Correct me if I'm wrong, to me on the DAT that would mean this figure would have:
9 front, the tower of 3 in the back, the 3 cubes connecting the front to the back, and the 1 cube that lies off to the side. For 16 total.

CDP does some funky things at times. Take note of them, you likely won't see them on your DAT

 

[xatlasb]

You're correct, the explanation indicates that there are in fact 16 cubes total.

Since I just started I'm sure I haven't picked up on all the patterns yet of when the "invisible cubes" are in fact actually present or not.

Thanks so much for the replies!