Mathematics ACT Aspire Test 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The volume formula for a cube is indeed represented as \( V = s^3 \), where \( s \) stands for the length of a side of the cube. This representation arises from the fact that a cube has three dimensions—length, width, and height—all of which are equal in a cube. Thus, to calculate the volume, you multiply the length of one side by itself three times, which is expressed mathematically as \( s \times s \times s \), resulting in \( s^3 \).

The option that mentions the square of the side, \( side^2 \), represents the area of one face of the cube, not the volume. Another choice calculates the total surface area of the cube, which involves multiplying the length of a side by 6 because a cube has six faces. Lastly, the interpretation of base times height applies to a rectangular prism or other three-dimensional shapes but does not accurately describe the volume of a cube specifically. Hence, the formula for the volume of a cube remains \( V = s^3 \).