CHAPTER 3 : SQUARES, SQUARE ROOTS CUBES AND CUBE ROOTS
KUASA DUA, PUNCA KUASA DUA, KUASA TIGA DAN
PUNCA KUASA TIGA
SQUARES OF NUMBERS (NUMBER KUASA DUA)
(A) Stating the square of a number
1. The square of number is a product of the number multiplied by itself.
2. The square of a number can be written either in the expanded form or the index form
(with the square notation ( 2 )).
For example :
3. The square of any number is always positive.
For example:
4. The square of a number can be read in several ways.
For example :
242 is read as
(i) twenty-four to the power of two
(ii) twenty-four squared
(iii) the square of twenty-four
5. a² is an index form for a x a and is not equal to a x 2.
For example :
(B) Determining the squares of numbers without using a calculator
1. The value of the square of a number can be obtained by multiplying the number by itself.
For example,
2. The number of decimal places (d.p) in the square of a decimals is twice the number of
decimal places of the decimal being squared.
For example :
3. A mixed number has to be changed to an improper fraction before squaring.
For example :
(C) Estimating the squares of numbers /Anggarkan nombor kuasa dua
There are two methods that can be used to estimate the squares of numbers.
Method 1: By approximation / Pembundaran
Round off the number to the nearest whole number or to one decimal point that can be easily
squared.
For example:
Method 2: By determaining the range / Menentukan Julat
The square of a number can be estimated by stating it between two values that can be easily
squared.
(D) Determining the squares of numbers using a calculator
1. To determine the square of a number by using a calculator, press the number keys
followed by the X2 key on the calculator.
2. Different models of calculators have different buttons for squaring a number.
For example:
3. By pressing a number, then Xfollowed by pressing the number again, we can also determine the
square of the number.
For example:
4. There are other function keys that will be used to determine the squares of the directed
numbers.
5. For square values that exceed 10 digits, the reading on a calculator is an approximation.
(E) Listing perfect squares / Kuasa dua sempurna
Perfect square is the product of a whole number multiplied by itself.
1² = 1 11² = 121
2² = 4 12² = 144
3² = 9 13² = 169
4² = 16 14² = 196
5² = 25 15² = 225
6² = 36 16² = 256
7² = 49 17² = 289
8² = 64 18² = 324
9² = 81 19² = 361
10² = 100 20² = 400
(F) Determining if a number is a perfect square
1. A number is a perfect square if it is a product of the same two whole numbers.
2. To determine whether a number is a perfect square, find all its prime factors and then pair
up all the same factors.
3. Perfect squares are whole numbers. Thus, decimals and fractions are not perfect squares.
(G) Solving problems involving squares of numbers
SQUARE ROOTS OF NUMBERS / Punca Kuasa Dua
(A) Writing the Square Roots of a Positive Number
(B) Determining the Square Roots of Perfect Squares Without Using a
Calculator
Finding the square root of a number is the inverse process (opposite) of squaring.
(C) Determining the Square Roots of Positive Numbers Without Using a
Calculator
The square root of a fraction is computed by finding the square root of the numerator and the
denominator.
Example :
Some fractions are reduced to lowest terms in order to find their square roots.
Example :
To find the square root of a mixed number, change it to an improper fraction first.
Example :
The square root of a decimal can be found by changing the decimal to a fraction and then
finding the square root of its numerator and denominator.
Example :
(D) Multiplying Two Square Roots
The product of two square roots of the same number will produce the number itself.
Example :
The product of two square roots of two different numbers can be found by multiplying the two
numbers first and then finding its square root.
Example :
(E) Estimating the Square Roots of Numbers
Method 1 : Estimating to the Nearest Value
Round off the given number to the nearest whole number from which the square root can be
found easily.
Method 2 : Stating the Square Root of a Number Between Two Values
Determining the range of the square root of a number
The square root of a number can be estimated between two values (the range), from which the
square root can be found easily.
(F) Finding the Square Roots of Numbers Using a Scientific Calculator
(G) Solving Problems Involving Squares and Square Roots
CUBES OF NUMBERS / Kuasa Tiga
(A) Stating the cube of a number
1. The cube of a number is the product of the number multiplied by itself twice.
2. The symbol of cube is ' ³ '. The cube can be represented in two ways, that are
the expanded form and the index form.
For example :
1³ = 1
2³ = 8
3³ = 27
4³ = 64
5³ = 125
6³ = 216
7³ = 343
8³ = 512
9³ = 729
10³ = 1000
3. The cube of numbers can be read in several ways.
For example :
5 ³ is read as
(i) five cubed
(ii) five to the power of three
(iii) the cube of five
(B) Determining cubes of numbers without using a calculator
1. The value of a cubed number can be obtained by multiplying the given number by
itself twice. For example :
(- 6)³ = - 6 x ( - 6 ) x ( - 6 )
= 36 x ( - 6 )
= - 216
2. The cube value of a positve number always positive.
3. The cube value of a negative number always negative.
(C) Estimating the cubes of numbers
Like the square and square root, we can estimate the cube of a number by approximation or by
determining the range where the value of the cube lies.
(D) Determining the cubes of numbers using a calculator
To obtain the cube of a given number using a calculator, press the given number followed by :
(E) Solving problems involving cubes of numbers
CUBE ROOTS OF NUMBERS / Punca Kuasa Tiga
(A) Writing the Cube Root of a Number
The cube root of any given number is the number that, when multiplied by itself twice, is equal
to the given number.
(B) Estimating the Cube Roots of Numbers
Method 1: Estimating to the Nearest Value
Method 2: Stating the Cube Root of a Number Between Two Values
Determining the range of the cube root of a number.
(C) Determining the Cube Roots of Integers Without Using a Calculator
(D) Determining the Cube Roots of Numbers Without Using a Calculator
(E) Determining the Cube Roots of Numbers Using a Calculator
(F) Solving Problems Involving Cubes and Cube Roots
(G) Computations Involving Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication,
Division and Mixed Operations on Squares, Square Roots, Cubes and
Cube Roots
When performing mixed operations on squares, square roots, cubes and cube roots, follow the order
of operations as below.
(a) Carry out the operations in the brackets [( )] first.
(b) Next, multiply or divide; calculating from left to right.
(c) Finally, add or subtract; again calculating from left to right.
