Grade 8 → Mensuration → Surface Area and Volume ↓
Cubes
In mathematics, understanding the concept of a cube is important when studying the surface area and volume of three-dimensional shapes. A cube is a special type of rectangular prism where all sides are the same length. This unique feature gives the cube its distinctive properties, making it an important shape in geometry and measurement.
What is a cube?
A cube is a three-dimensional solid object bounded by six square faces, facets, or sides, three of which meet at each vertex. The edges and corners of a cube are equal, making it a very regular and symmetrical shape. In other words, all edges have the same length. If the length of one edge of a cube is represented by s
, then each face is a square with a side length of s
.
Characteristics of the cube
- All the faces of a cube are squares.
- All edges have the same length.
- A cube has 12 edges, 6 faces, and 8 vertices.
- All angles in a cube are right angles (90 degrees).
Surface area of a cube
The surface area of a cube is the total area of all its six square faces. Since each face is a square and all squares have the same side length s
, the area of one face is simply s^2
. Since a cube has six equal faces, the formula for the total surface area A
can be expressed as:
a = 6s^2
This formula helps us determine the amount of material needed to cover the entire surface of a cube.
Let's consider a cube with a side length of 4 cm. To find its surface area, we can use the surface area formula:
S = 4 cm a = 6s^2 = 6(4 cm)^2 = 6(16 cm^2) = 96 cm^2
Thus, the surface area of this cube is 96 square centimeters.
Visualizing a cube
A cube can be easily visualized as a box where all sides are of equal length. Below is a visual depiction of a cube. Consider a cube whose side length is labeled as s
.
Volume of a cube
The volume of a solid shape such as a cube is the space it occupies. To find the volume V
of a cube, you need to multiply the length, width, and height, which are equal in a cube. Therefore, the formula for the volume of a cube is:
v = s^3
This formula tells us how much space there is inside the cube.
Consider a cube with a side length of 3 meters. To find its volume:
S = 3 m v = s^3 = (3 m)^3 = 27 m^3
Thus, the volume of the cube is 27 cubic meters.
Applications of cubes
Understanding cubes is useful in many real-world contexts. Here are some applications:
- Packaging: Cubes are commonly used in packaging because they maximize space-efficiency for storage and shipping.
- Construction: The properties of the cube are often applied in architecture and construction, with buildings often containing cube-shaped rooms.
- Education: Children learn about shapes using cubes because of their simplicity and uniformity.
Cube mesh
An important concept related to three-dimensional shapes is the net. The net of a cube is a two-dimensional shape that can be folded to form a cube. For a cube, the net consists of six squares connected in a T-shape, cross, or other valid configuration.
Here's a typical mesh for a cube:
This net can be given the shape of a cube by folding it at the edges.
Practice problems
Here are some practice problems to help reinforce the concepts of surface area and volume of cubes:
Find the surface area of a cube whose side length is 7 meters.
Solution:
S = 7 m a = 6s^2 = 6(7 m)^2 = 6(49 m^2) = 294 m^2
Thus, the surface area is 294 square meters.
The volume of a cube is 64 cm3. Determine the length of its side.
Solution:
v = s^3 64 cm^3 = s^3 S = ∛(64 cm^3) S = 4 cm
The length of the side of the cube is 4 cm.
Find the volume of a cube of side 9 cm.
Solution:
S = 9 cm v = s^3 = (9 cm)^3 = 729 cm^3
The volume of the cube is 729 cubic centimeters.