Correct : a

To find the minimum number of cuts required to divide a cube into 8 pieces of equal size and shape, let us analyze the dimensions of the cube:
• A cube is a three-dimensional object with three distinct axes: length, width, and height.
• To ensure that all resulting pieces have the exact same size and shape, our cuts must be symmetrical along these axes.
• If we make 1 straight cut passing completely through the middle along the length, the cube is divided into 2 equal parts.
• Making a 2nd straight cut through the middle along the width divides those parts further, resulting in 4 equal pieces.
• Making a 3rd straight cut through the middle along the height cuts all existing pieces in half, resulting in exactly 8 equal pieces (each piece being a smaller, identical cube).

Since each cut must go completely from one side to the other, making 1 cut along each of the 3 coordinate planes gives us exactly 2 × 2 × 2 = 8 identical pieces. Thus, the minimum number of cuts required is 3, matching option (a).