How to Get Rid of a Variable That Is Cubed

How to Get Rid of a Variable That Is Cubed
••• artisteer/iStock/GettyImages

An exponent represents how many times a number should be multiplied by itself. For example, ​x3 (or x cubed) would be written out as ​x​ × ​x​ × ​x​. Canceling out a component in an equation requires using the opposite of that component. For example, subtracting 4 eliminates positive 4. The opposite of exponents are roots. The opposite of an exponent of 3 is a cubed root, indicated by this symbol: ³√.

    Isolate the instances of the cubed variable on one side of the equation. Practice using the example

    2x^3 + 2 = 3 - 6x^3

    First, add 6​x3 to both sides. This leaves you with:

    8x^3 + 2 = 3

    Next, subtract 2 from both sides to isolate the variable:

    8x^3 = 1

    Eliminate the leading number or coefficient of the variable as the exponent only applies to the variable, not to that number. To continue the example, divide both sides of 8​x3 = 1 by 8 to obtain

    x^3 = \frac{1}{8}

    Eliminate the cube on the variable by taking the cube root of both sides of the equation:

    \sqrt[3]{x^3}= \sqrt[3]{\frac{1}{8}} \text{ or } x = \sqrt[3]{\frac{1}{8}}

    Simplify the answer. Because the cube root of 8 is 2:

    \sqrt[3]{\frac{1}{8}} = \frac{1}{2} \text{ So }x = \frac{1}{2}

Related Articles

How to Solve Equations for the Indicated Variable
How to Use Elimination to Solve the Linear Equation
How to Factor Polynomials With 4 Terms
How to Solve Equations for the Indicated Variable
How to Solve for Both X & Y
How to Get Rid of Cubed Power
How to Find X in an Algebra Question
How to Solve Distributive Properties With Fractions
What is the Identity Property of Multiplication?
How to Do Exponents Outside of the Parenthesis
How to Simplify Algebraic Expressions
What Are Radicals in Math?
How to Factor a Perfect Cube
How to Simplify Exponents
How to Identify a Numerical Coefficient of a Term
How to Divide Equations
How to Divide Rational Numbers
How to Classify Polynomials by Degree
How to Multiply a Negative Variable With a Positive...
How to Determine Linear Equations

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!