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Cubic Units - Introduction, Symbol and Examples

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What are Cubic Units?

Learn About Cubic Units

As we grow up, our mathematics learning also gets influenced. As kids first we start with addition and multiplication. Growing up we advance our learning and know about geometries, long divisions, and other enhanced mathematical concepts. Likewise, studying cubic units is one of the important concepts which we study when we proceed in middle school.


This content is devoted to the learning of cubic units. We will begin with the discussion of “what are cubic units?”


Discussion on Cubic Units

Did you know that the concept of cubic units actually originated from the study of Geometry? In geometry, the cubic units are the units that are measured in terms of volume. The volume of the unit cube where the length, width, and height are 1 unit each is 1 cubic unit.


Have you seen a rectangular prism?

Rectangular Prism

Rectangular Prism


This rectangular prism is also made up of small cubic units. The measurement of length, width, and height of the rectangular prism can be done by counting the number of cubic units. The volume is estimated in terms of cubic units as well. Some of the examples that are cubic in terms of metric units are:

  • Cubic metrics

  • Cubic centimeters

  • In customary units like inches and cubic feet.


The Symbol of the Cubic Unit

The symbol for the cubic unit is cm3 or cc, ccm. This is a prefixed SI-driven unit which is the unit of volume.


An Example of Cubic Unit

A Cube

A cube

A cube is represented in the above figure. The length of each of the sides of this cube is measured as 1 centimeter and thus the volume is 1 cubic centimeter only.

Did You Know?

  • All the 6 faces of the cubic unit are square and all of its 12 edges are measured in one unit each measurement, which is derived in length.

  • Have you ever wondered why is volume cubic? When we estimate the volume of any structure the answer we get is always in the cube. Thus the estimated answer is in cubed or inches cube. For this, we are required to know only one side, then we can easily find out the volume of the structure.

  • The properties of the cube are - A cube has 12 edges, 6 faces, and 8 vertices.


This content on the topics of cubic meters, cubic units, and cubes is not exhaustive. If you want to learn more about it, you can do so by solving various problems on the same and engaging yourself in finding out the volume and estimating it in terms of a cube.

FAQs on Cubic Units - Introduction, Symbol and Examples

1. What do you mean by one cubic foot box?

1 cubic foot box might sound small to you, but in reality, this is quite a large box. In terms of the cube, this is 12" x 12" x 12".

2. What is a unit cube?

A cube that has an edge length of 1 unit is known as a unit cube. A unit cube has 1 cubic unit of volume. The area is the number of square units which is required to be covered on a plane figure.

3. How do we calculate the volume of a cube?

The formula to calculate the volume of a cube is multiplying the three elements - length, width, and height.