How do you calculate the cube of 3?

To calculate the cube of 3, multiply 3 by itself twice: 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.

In more detail, cubing a number means raising it to the power of three. This involves multiplying the number by itself and then by itself again. For the number 3, you start by multiplying 3 by 3, which equals 9. Then, you take that result and multiply it by 3 again. So, 9 × 3 equals 27. Therefore, the cube of 3 is 27.

This can be written mathematically as \(3^3\). The small 3 above the main number indicates that 3 is to be multiplied by itself three times. This is different from squaring a number, which involves multiplying the number by itself just once (e.g., \(3^2 = 3 \times 3 = 9\)).

Understanding how to cube a number is useful in various areas of mathematics, including geometry and algebra. For example, when calculating the volume of a cube, you use the formula \(V = s^3\), where \(s\) is the length of one side of the cube. If each side of the cube is 3 units long, the volume would be \(3^3 = 27\) cubic units.

Remember, the process of cubing a number is straightforward: just multiply the number by itself twice. Practising with different numbers can help solidify your understanding of this concept.