What is the volume of a cube with a side length of 3 cm?

To find the volume of a cube, you use the formula ( V = s^3 ), where ( s ) is the length of a side of the cube. In this case, with a side length of 3 cm, you would calculate the volume as follows:

1. Substitute the side length into the formula:

( V = 3^3 ).

2. Perform the exponentiation:

( 3^3 = 3 \times 3 \times 3 ).

3. Calculate the product:

( 3 \times 3 = 9 ), and then

( 9 \times 3 = 27 ).

Thus, the volume of the cube is 27 cm³. This demonstrates how cubing the side length effectively gives the total volume, as each dimension—length, width, and height—contributes to the overall space occupied by the cube. This confirms that the correct answer, representing the volume of the cube, is indeed 27 cm³.