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Soma Cube
10 Mins
Difficulty
Age 6+
Picture from Puzzle Master
3D Packing
Objective
Assemble the seven shapes into a 3x3x3 cube. How many solutions can you find?
History & Trivia
This puzzle was invented by Danish poet and writer Piet Hein in 1933 during a lecture on
quantum mechanics conducted by Werner Heisenberg.
The pieces of the Soma cube consist of all possible combinations of three or four unit
cubes, joined at their faces, such that at least one bend is formed. In other words, they are
all the possible shapes that can be made with 3 or 4 identical cubelets, that are not
rectangular.
Soma is a Sanskrit word for a euphoric plant extraction, used in ancient India as a narcotic.
Soma is also referenced in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World.
The Soma cube has 240 unique solutions. If you find that impressive, the 4x4x4 version of
this puzzle known as the Bedlam cube has 19,186 distinct solutions!
Extension
The same pieces can be used to form a large variety of other appealing 3D shapes,
including dogs, chairs and skyscrapers, easily found on the internet. Better still, invent your
own shapes! Can you analytically find a shape that is impossible to make with the pieces?
If you liked this puzzle, try the Domino Dice Cube or Conway's Packing Box next.
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