Class 8 Maths – Cubes and Cube Roots Notes

Cubes and Cube Roots – Quick Notes (Class 8 NCERT)

Cube of a Number

  • Definition: The cube of a number nnn is the number multiplied by itself three times:

n3=n×n×nn^3 = n \times n \times nn3=n×n×n

  • Examples:

23=8,(3)3=272^3 = 8, \quad (-3)^3 = -2723=8,(−3)3=−27

  • Properties of Cubes:
  1. Cube of a positive number = positive
  2. Cube of a negative number = negative
  3. Cube of 0 = 0
  4. Cubes grow faster than squares

Cube Root of a Number

  • Definition: The cube root of a number xxx is a number yyy such that y3=xy^3 = xy3=x:

x3=y    y3=x\sqrt[3]{x} = y \implies y^3 = x3x​=y⟹y3=x

  • Examples:
    83=2,273=3\sqrt[3]{8} = 2, \quad \sqrt[3]{-27} = -338​=2,3−27​=−3
  • Properties:
  1. ab3=a3b3\sqrt[3]{a \cdot b} = \sqrt[3]{a} \cdot \sqrt[3]{b}3a⋅b​=3a​⋅3b​
  2. a/b3=a3/b3\sqrt[3]{a / b} = \sqrt[3]{a} / \sqrt[3]{b}3a/b​=3a​/3b​

Methods to Find Cube Roots

  1. Prime Factorization Method
    • Example: Find 2163\sqrt[3]{216}3216​
    • Factorization: 216=222333=2333216 = 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdot 3 \cdot 3 = 2^3 \cdot 3^3216=2⋅2⋅2⋅3⋅3⋅3=23⋅33
    • Take one from each triple: 23=62 \cdot 3 = 62⋅3=6
    • So, 2163=6\sqrt[3]{216} = 63216​=6
  2. Estimation Method
    • For non-perfect cubes: Find the nearest cubes and estimate
    • Example: 5033.684\sqrt[3]{50} \approx 3.684350​≈3.684 (between 33=273^3 = 2733=27 and 43=644^3 = 6443=64)

Applications of Cubes and Cube Roots

  • Volume of a cube: V=(side)3V = (\text{side})^3V=(side)3
  • Real-life problems in geometry and algebra
  • Solving cubic equations in higher mathematics

Cubes and Cube Roots – MCQ Q&A

  1. Q: Cube of 3?
    A: 33=273^3 = 2733=27
  2. Q: Cube of -2?
    A: (2)3=8(-2)^3 = -8(−2)3=−8
  3. Q: Cube root of 125?
    A: 1253=5\sqrt[3]{125} = 53125​=5
  4. Q: Cube of 0?
    A: 0
  5. Q: Cube of 1?
    A: 1
  6. Q: (5)3=?(-5)^3 = ?(−5)3=?
    A: -125
  7. Q: Cube root of -64?
    A: -4
  8. Q: Product property: 8273=?\sqrt[3]{8 \cdot 27} = ?38⋅27​=?
    A: 83273=23=6\sqrt[3]{8} \cdot \sqrt[3]{27} = 2 \cdot 3 = 638​⋅327​=2⋅3=6
  9. Q: Quotient property: 125/83=?\sqrt[3]{125 / 8} = ?3125/8​=?
    A: 1253/83=5/2\sqrt[3]{125}/\sqrt[3]{8} = 5/23125​/38​=5/2
  10. Q: Find 3433\sqrt[3]{343}3343​
    A: 7
  11. Q: Is cube of a negative number positive or negative?
    A: Negative ✅
  12. Q: Volume of a cube with side 4 cm?
    A: 43=64 cm34^3 = 64\ cm^343=64 cm3
  13. Q: Cube root of 1?
    A: 1
  14. Q: Cube root of 0?
    A: 0
  15. Q: Find 2163\sqrt[3]{216}3216​ using prime factorization
    A: 2333    23=62^3 \cdot 3^3 \implies 2 \cdot 3 = 623⋅33⟹2⋅3=6
  16. Q: Which of these is a perfect cube? 8, 12, 18
    A: 8 ✅
  17. Q: Estimate 503\sqrt[3]{50}350​
    A: 3.684\approx 3.684≈3.684
  18. Q: Cube root of -27?
    A: -3
  19. Q: Can the cube of a number be zero?
    A: Yes, if the number is 0 ✅
  20. Q: Cube of 10?
    A: 103=100010^3 = 1000103=1000