Final answer:
Calculating 1.5 to the third power involves multiplying the number by itself two additional times, which equals 3.375. This process of handling exponents applies to decimals just as it does for whole numbers, although additional rules apply when dealing with scientific notation involving powers of 10.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about calculating the value of 1.5 to the third power. To do exponents with decimals, the same rules apply as with whole numbers. We multiply the decimal number by itself for the number of times indicated by the exponent. Cubing, or raising a number to the third power, means multiplying the number by itself twice more (a total of three times).
Here's how it is done step by step for 1.5 to the third power (1.5³)
- First multiplication: 1.5 × 1.5 = 2.25
- Second multiplication: 2.25 × 1.5 = 3.375
So, 1.5 to the third power equals 3.375.
If we are working with an exponent that includes a power of 10, such as 10², this indicates that the decimal is shifted two places to the right, making 1 × 10² equal to 100. However, in our case with 1.5³, we simply perform the multiplications as shown above without the need to shift the decimal place.
Another consideration in handling exponents with decimals is the application of rules for multiplying exponentiated quantities and shifting the decimal point based on the power of 10. This is particularly useful when dealing with scientific notation, which expresses large or small numbers in a more manageable format.