The cube root of a number is a value that gives the original number when multiplied by itself three times (cubed).
In other words, if x is the cube root of y, then x3 = y.
Calculating the cube root of numbers is common in fields that deal with three-dimensional measurements.
For instance, if you’re a building contractor and know the volume of a cube-shaped water tank and want to determine the side lengths to choose the suitable container for transportation, you would calculate the cube root of the volume.
In this tutorial, I will show you ways to calculate the cube root of numbers in Excel.
Method #1: Use the Exponentiation Operator (^)
You can find the cube root of a number in Excel by using the exponentiation operator (^) to raise it to the power of 13.
Suppose you have the dataset below showing the volumes of cube-shaped water tanks in column B. You want to calculate the side lengths of the tanks in column C.
You can use the formula below to find the side lengths of the tanks:
=B2^(1/3)
Drag or double-click the fill handle in cell C2 to copy the formula to other cells down the column.
Also read: How to Square a Number in Excel?
Method #2: Use the POWER Function
You can use Excel’s built-in POWER function to calculate the cube root of a number. The function returns the value of a number raised to a specified power.
Syntax of POWER:
POWER (number, power)
The ‘number’ argument is required and is the base value.
The ‘power’ argument is required and is the exponent to which the base value is raised.
Suppose you have the dataset below showing the volumes of cube-shaped water tanks in column B. You want to find the side lengths of the tanks in column C.
You can use the formula below to find the side lengths of the tanks:
=POWER(B2,1/3)
Drag or double-click the fill handle in cell C2 to copy the formula to the other cells in the column.
Also read: Calculate Log Base 2 in Excel
Method #3: Use a User-Defined Function (UDF)
You can create a User-Defined Function (UDF) in VBA to calculate the cube root of numbers in Excel and save yourself time by reducing the number of keystrokes and mouse clicks needed.
Suppose you have the dataset below showing the volumes of cube-shaped water tanks in column B. You want to find the side lengths of the tanks in column C.
You can use a UDF to calculate the desired lengths using the steps below:
- Copy the VBA code below to a standard VBA module in Excel.
Function CUBEROOT(num As Double) As Double
CUBEROOT = num ^ (1 / 3)
End Function- Press ALT + F11 to switch to the worksheet containing the dataset.
- Enter in cell C2 the formula below:
=CUBEROOT(B2)
- Drag or double-click the fill handle in cell C2 to copy the formula to other cells in the column.
I have shown you several ways to calculate the cube root of numbers in Excel. I hope you found the tutorial helpful.
Other Excel articles you may also like:
