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Cubes and Cube Roots Complete Guide with Meaning and Methods

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Cube and Cube Root Formula Properties and Solved Examples

Class 8 students need to learn all chapters in the mathematics curriculum with proper care. However, you must focus more intensely on the cubes and cube roots chapter. This lesson can help you throughout your academic career, even if you choose to pursue competitive examinations in the future. 

With a proper understanding of cubes and cube roots class 8 curriculum, you can solve almost any questions that arise from this chapter. In the following lesson, students will learn about the Hardy-Ramanujan Number, prime factors and other useful factors regarding cubes.     

What is The Hardy-Ramanujan Number?

Hardy-Ramanujan number refers to any figure, which can be expressed by the summation of two cubes. For example, 1729 is not a perfect cube but you can express the same as 1728 + 1 or 123 + 13. The same number can also be expressed as 1000 + 729, which is also 103 + 93. 1729 is the smallest Hardy-Ramanujan Number. Other numbers in this series include 4104, 13832 and many more.

Properties of a Cube Number

When studying chapter 7 cubes and cube roots, one should pay close attention to the various characteristics of cubes. These properties include the following factors – 

  • Cubes of all odd numbers are odd.

  • Cubes of all even numbers are even.

  • Cubes of numbers ending with two will end in eight. Similarly, cubes of a number ending with eight always end with two.

  • Cube of a number ending with 3 will always end with 7. Also, the cube of a number ending with 7 will always end with 3.

  • The sum of cubes of first ‘n’ natural numbers will always be equal to the square of their sums.

Assessing Prime Factorisation in CBSE class 8 Maths Cubes and Cube Roots

Prime factorisation is a method through which you can easily determine whether a particular figure represents a perfect cube. If each prime factor can be clubbed together in groups of three, then the number in question is a perfect cube. To understand how prime factorisation method works, let us take the help of an example.

Consider the number 500 to be divided using prime factorisation. Therefore, we can say,

500 = 2 x 2 x 5 x 5 x 5 = 22 x 53 

Now, let us consider the number 1728.

1728 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 23 x 23 x 33

Here, all numbers form cubes, which is why, we can say definitively that 1728 is a perfect cube number. In fact, its cube root is 12. Prime factorisation is one of the most important aspects of cubes and cube roots. Therefore, ensure you have no doubts regarding this topic.   

True or False

Q. Any cube of a natural number with 3 as its multiple will also have 27 as a multiple.

Ans. True. 

Cube Root Estimation

Let us assume a number, say 205379. Start clubbing three numbers from the right hand side. So, the first group will have 379, while the second group will have 205. Since the unit place of the first group is 9, we can say that the cube root’s unit place will also be 9. 

Next, take the second group number and determine the closest perfect cubes to it. The closest perfect cubes to 205 are 125, which is 53, and 216, which is 63. Assume the lower cube root number as the first digit for the starting number. Thus, with this method, you can arrive at the result, 59, which is indeed the cube root for 205379. 

Keep practicing cubes and cube roots exercises to gain a better understanding of this topic.       

Sky is the Limit

We can assist in your preparations, making class 8 mathematics seem simple. Even the dreaded cubes and cube roots chapter will seem easy after you attend our live classes, conducted by expert teachers from across India. Vedantu provides highest-quality, exclusive study materials. 

These papers and exercises are created with great care, enhancing your cubes and cube roots class 8 CBSE preparations, along with all other chapters. 

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FAQs on Cubes and Cube Roots Complete Guide with Meaning and Methods

1. What are cubes and cube roots in Maths?

A cube is the result of multiplying a number by itself three times, and a cube root is a number that when multiplied by itself three times gives the original number.

  • If a number is a, then its cube is a³ = a × a × a.
  • The cube root of a number b is written as ∛b.
  • Example: 3³ = 27, so ∛27 = 3.
Cubes and cube roots are important concepts in exponents and powers in Mathematics.

2. How do you find the cube of a number?

To find the cube of a number, multiply the number by itself three times.

  • Formula: a³ = a × a × a
  • Example 1: 4³ = 4 × 4 × 4 = 64
  • Example 2: (-2)³ = -2 × -2 × -2 = -8
Cubing a number means raising it to the power of 3 using exponents.

3. How do you find the cube root of a number?

To find the cube root of a number, determine the value that when multiplied by itself three times equals the given number.

  • Symbol: ∛a
  • Example 1: Since 5³ = 125, then ∛125 = 5.
  • Example 2: Since (-4)³ = -64, then ∛(-64) = -4.
For large numbers, prime factorization or estimation methods can be used to calculate cube roots.

4. What is the formula for cube and cube root?

The formula for a cube is a³ = a × a × a, and the formula for a cube root is ∛a = a^(1/3).

  • Cube formula uses exponent 3.
  • Cube root is the inverse operation of cubing.
  • Example: 6³ = 216 and ∛216 = 6.
These formulas are part of exponents and radicals in algebra.

5. What are the first 10 perfect cubes?

The first 10 perfect cubes are numbers obtained by cubing natural numbers from 1 to 10.

  • 1³ = 1
  • 2³ = 8
  • 3³ = 27
  • 4³ = 64
  • 5³ = 125
  • 6³ = 216
  • 7³ = 343
  • 8³ = 512
  • 9³ = 729
  • 10³ = 1000
These values are commonly used in cube and cube root problems.

6. What is the difference between square root and cube root?

The square root finds a number multiplied by itself twice, while the cube root finds a number multiplied by itself three times.

  • Square root formula: √a = a^(1/2)
  • Cube root formula: ∛a = a^(1/3)
  • Example: √25 = 5 because 5 × 5 = 25.
  • ∛27 = 3 because 3 × 3 × 3 = 27.
Unlike square roots, cube roots of negative numbers are real numbers.

7. Is the cube root of a negative number negative?

Yes, the cube root of a negative number is negative because multiplying three negative numbers gives a negative result.

  • Example: (-3)³ = -27
  • Therefore, ∛(-27) = -3
This is different from square roots, where negative numbers do not have real square roots.

8. How do you find the cube root by prime factorization?

To find a cube root using prime factorization, group the prime factors into sets of three identical numbers.

  • Step 1: Prime factorize the number.
  • Step 2: Make groups of three identical factors.
  • Step 3: Take one factor from each group.
Example: Find ∛216
  • 216 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 × 3
  • Group: (2 × 2 × 2) and (3 × 3 × 3)
  • Cube root = 2 × 3 = 6
So, ∛216 = 6.

9. What are the properties of cubes and cube roots?

The main properties of cubes and cube roots relate to signs, multiplication, and division.

  • The cube of an even number is even; the cube of an odd number is odd.
  • The cube of a negative number is negative.
  • (ab)³ = a³b³
  • ∛(ab) = ∛a × ∛b
  • Cubes of numbers ending in 0 end in 0.
These properties help simplify algebraic expressions and solve exponent problems.

10. What are some real-life applications of cubes and cube roots?

Cubes and cube roots are used in volume calculations, engineering, and physics.

  • Volume of a cube: V = a³, where a is the side length.
  • To find the side length from volume, use a = ∛V.
  • Example: If volume = 125 cm³, then side = ∛125 = 5 cm.
Cube roots are also used in density, 3D geometry, and scaling problems in Mathematics.