Slicing 3d Shapes Worksheet Download - Free Printable

Let’s go through each problem one by one. We’re looking at 3D shapes being sliced by a flat plane (like cutting with a knife), and we need to figure out what 2D shape appears on the cut surface.

---

Problem 1:
A cube is sliced vertically, straight down the middle, parallel to one of its faces.
→ The slice goes through four edges, all equal in length.
→ The resulting shape is a square.

✔ Answer: Square

---

Problem 2:
A rectangular prism (like a box) is sliced diagonally from top front to bottom back — but still straight across.
→ The slice cuts through four sides, making a rectangle that’s longer than it is tall.
→ It’s not a square because the original shape is stretched.
→ Result: Rectangle

✔ Answer: Rectangle

---

Problem 3:
Another rectangular prism, this time sliced horizontally near the top, parallel to the base.
→ Since it’s parallel to the base, and the base is a square (or close to it), the cross-section matches the base.
→ Looking at the drawing, the slice creates a small square.
→ Result: Square

✔ Answer: Square

---

Problem 4:
A triangular prism (like a Toblerone bar) is sliced horizontally, halfway up.
→ The slice is parallel to the triangular bases? No — wait, look again.
Actually, the slice is horizontal, cutting through the three rectangular sides.
→ That makes a rectangle! Because you’re cutting across the length of the prism.
→ Even though the ends are triangles, slicing sideways gives a rectangle.
→ Result: Rectangle

✔ Answer: Rectangle

---

Problem 5:
A pyramid with a square base is sliced vertically through the apex and two opposite corners of the base.
→ This cut goes from tip to base, splitting the pyramid into two halves.
→ The face created is a triangle — same as the side faces.
→ Result: Triangle

✔ Answer: Triangle

---

Problem 6:
Same pyramid, but now sliced horizontally, parallel to the base, somewhere in the middle.
→ When you slice a pyramid parallel to the base, you get a smaller version of the base.
→ Base is a square → so cross-section is also a square? Wait — no! Look at the diagram.
Actually, the slice shown is *not* parallel to the base — it’s tilted? Wait, no — re-examining:
The blue plane is horizontal, cutting through the pyramid above the base.
But the pyramid has a square base — so any horizontal slice should be a square.
BUT — looking at the answer drawn below #6, it shows a triangle. Hmm.
Wait — maybe I misread the orientation. Let me check again.

Actually, in problem #6, the pyramid is oriented with its point facing forward, and the slice is vertical? No — the blue plane is behind the pyramid, suggesting it’s slicing from back to front?
Wait — perhaps the pyramid is sitting on its side? Or maybe the slice is diagonal?

Looking carefully: In #6, the pyramid is drawn with its base at the bottom, and the slice is a horizontal plane cutting through the middle — which should give a square. But the answer shown is a triangle. That doesn’t match.

Wait — hold on. Maybe I’m confusing the problems. Let’s look at the actual image logic:

In problem #6, the pyramid is sliced by a plane that is *parallel to one of the triangular faces*, not the base. Or perhaps it’s sliced vertically through the apex and midpoints of two adjacent base edges? That would create a triangle.

Actually, standard rule: If you slice a square pyramid with a plane that passes through the apex and two points on the base that are not opposite, you can get a triangle.

But in the diagram for #6, the slice seems to be cutting off the top part, and the cross-section shown is a triangle — meaning the slice went through the apex and two edges of the base, forming a triangular face.

So yes — if the slice includes the apex and cuts two sides of the base, the cross-section is a triangle.

✔ Answer: Triangle

---

Problem 7:
A rectangular prism (flat like a book) is sliced horizontally, very thin, near the bottom.
→ Since it’s sliced parallel to the large face, and the prism is flat, the cross-section is a long, thin rectangle.
→ Matches the answer shown.

✔ Answer: Rectangle

---

Problem 8:
A triangular prism is sliced vertically, perpendicular to the triangular bases, going through the middle.
→ You’re cutting across the “length” of the prism, so you’ll see a rectangle — because the sides are rectangles.
→ Even though the ends are triangles, slicing along the length gives a rectangle.
→ Result: Rectangle

✔ Answer: Rectangle

---

Problem 9:
A square pyramid is sliced horizontally, parallel to the base, halfway up.
→ As mentioned before, slicing a pyramid parallel to the base gives a similar shape — smaller, but same proportions.
→ Base is square → cross-section is square.
→ The answer shown is a square — correct.

✔ Answer: Square

---

Now let’s list all answers clearly:

1) Square
2) Rectangle
3) Square
4) Rectangle
5) Triangle
6) Triangle
7) Rectangle
8) Rectangle
9) Square

Final Answer:
1) Square
2) Rectangle
3) Square
4) Rectangle
5) Triangle
6) Triangle
7) Rectangle
8) Rectangle
9) Square