Cube numbers are numbers you get when you multiply a whole number by itself three times, like 2×2×2=82\times 2\times 2=82×2×2=8 or 5×5×5=1255\times 5\times 5=1255×5×5=125. In math notation this is written as “cubing” a number, using an exponent of 3, for example n3n^3n3 means n×n×nn\times n\times nn×n×n. The first few cube numbers are 1, 8, 27, 64, 125, 216, 343, 512, 729, and 1000.

Quick Scoop

  • A cube number is the result of multiplying a number by itself and then by itself again, so n3=n×n×nn^3=n\times n\times nn3=n×n×n.
  • Positive numbers give positive cube numbers, and negative numbers give negative cube numbers, for example 23=82^3=823=8 and (−2)3=−8(-2)^3=-8(−2)3=−8.
  • Geometrically, cube numbers show up as volumes of cubes, such as a cube with side length 3 having volume 33=273^3=2733=27 cubic units.

In school contexts and kids’ math resources, cube numbers are usually introduced together with real-world visuals like dice or building blocks to show how “three-dimensional” repeated multiplication works.

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