Cube (algebra)

In arithmetic and algebra, the cube of a number n is its third power, that is, the result of multiplying three instances of n together. The cube of a number n is denoted n3, using a superscript 3, for example 23 = 8. The cube operation can also be defined for any other mathematical expression, for example (x + 1)3. The cube is also the number multiplied by its square: n3 = n × n2 = n × n × n. The cube function is the function x ↦ x3 (often denoted y = x3) that maps a number to its cube. It is an odd function, as (−n)3 = −(n3). The volume of a geometric cube is the cube of its side length, giving rise to the name. The inverse operation that consists of finding a number whose cube is n is called extracting the cube root of n. It determines the side of the cube of a given volume. It is also n raised to the one-third power. The graph of the cube function is known as the cubic parabola. Because the cube function is an odd function, this curve has a center of symmetry at the origin, but no axis of symmetry.