Ask Marilyn

Is it possible to cut a hole in a cube through which a larger cube can be passed? —Laurence K., Dayton, Ohio Impossible though it may seem, yes! A similar question dates back more than three centuries to a German noble who wagered that a hole could be cut in a cube through which a second cube of the same size could be passed. An English mathematician formulated a proof, and the second cube—which was later found could be even slightly larger than the first cube—came to be called Prince Rupert's cube, after the fellow who won the bet. As you might expect, the exact position of the hole cannot be described briefly without using math lingo, but it's a dandy problem for teachers who would like to wow their geometry classes.