Finding the Volume of a Cube
(KS3, Year 8)
The volume of a cube is found using the formula:

volume cube formula In this formula, a is the length of each side of the cube. The image below shows what we mean by the length of the side:

cube a3

"Find the Volume" Widget

Here is a widget to help you learn the formulas for finding the volumes of different shapes.
  • Click on the shape you're learning about.
  • Click on the pad to start.
  • Follow the instructions in the bottom-left corner.
  • On the last click, the formula, workings, and answer will appear in the yellow box.
  • Enjoy!
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How to Find the Volume of a Cube

Question

What is the volume of a cube with sides of length 6 cm, as shown below?
cube 6

Step-by-Step:

1

Start with the formula:
Volume = a3
Don't forget: a3 = a × a × a (a cubed).

2

Substitute the side length into the formula. In our example, a = 6.
Volume = 63 = 6 × 6 × 6 = 216 cm3

Answer:

The volume of the cube with sides of length 6 cm is 216 cm3.

Lesson Slides

The slider below shows another real example of how to find the volume of a cube.

What Is a Cube?

A cube is a box-shaped object. It is made of six identical square-shaped faces.

cube explained
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This page was written by Stephen Clarke.