How do you calculate the volume of a cube?

To calculate the volume of a cube, multiply the length of one side by itself twice.

A cube is a three-dimensional shape with six equal square faces. To find its volume, you need to know the length of one of its sides, often referred to as the edge length. Let's denote this edge length as \( s \). The formula for the volume \( V \) of a cube is given by:

\[ V = s \times s \times s \]

or more simply,

\[ V = s^3 \]

This means you take the length of one side and multiply it by itself twice. For example, if the edge length of a cube is 4 cm, you would calculate the volume as follows:

\[ V = 4 \times 4 \times 4 = 64 \, \text{cm}^3 \]

The unit of volume will be cubic units, which in this case is cubic centimetres (cm³).

Understanding this formula is crucial because it shows how the volume of a cube grows rapidly as the edge length increases. If you double the edge length, the volume increases by a factor of eight (since \( 2^3 = 8 \)). This exponential growth is a key concept in geometry and helps in visualising how three-dimensional spaces work.

Remember, the volume of a cube is always expressed in cubic units, reflecting the three-dimensional nature of the shape. This simple yet powerful formula is a fundamental part of GCSE Maths and is widely applicable in various real-world contexts, from packing boxes to constructing buildings.