N unit cubes are assembled to form a larger cube (N is a positive integer.)

In the larger cube thus assembled, some of the faces are then painted.

The cube is now taken apart and it is found that 271 of the unit cubes have paint on them.

Find N.

(In reply to re: Interesting. by Charlie)

Well caught.

I actually solved the puzzle in an idle hour yesterday while still in the queue and raised this specific concern.

It seems I'd worn myself out so much solving the incorrect version, (272 painted unit cubes) that I didn't notice it had been corrected at the last moment...

Posted by broll on 2016-09-28 23:47:50