# Math Help - find each side of a cube - volume.

1. Yes, and so that gives you what equation?

2. cuberoot 196= 5.81?

3. Well, eventually. What I'm looking for is the next step in simplifying the equation in post # 21.

You see, in mathematics, it is not enough to get the right answer. You must know how you got the right answer. Some mathematicians, it is true, are so focused on the method of solving a problem that they either don't care about getting the answer at all, or they don't check to see if it's the right answer. The engineers get that one right. Overall, I'd say it is equally important to A. Get the right answer by B. Using a correct, valid, and applicable method.

i might ask my teacher is we can do some more of these in class so that i can get alot better at them! thanks again

5. Well, if you don't want to do any more on this problem, I suppose that's your choice. I wouldn't call you "done" with the problem, though.

6. i think what we have done is all i had to do...

7. Perhaps. But you haven't convinced me that you know why you had to take the cube root. Why not the fourth root? Why not square the number? Why not subtract 15?

If you don't know the why of your method, then that will not help you the slightest bit in tackling a new problem you haven't seen before. Math is not about applying known formulas to known problems. It's about thinking logically and imagining solutions to unknown problems.

8. you do cube root because of height, length and width, there are 3 of them and they are all equal.

9. Yeah, but there's one step in-between what you just said (which is true), and the result. See the other thread we've been working on. It might have something to do with this problem.

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