The purpose of this lesson is to encourage students to transition from the geometric characterization of cube roots as edge lengths to an algebraic characterization of cube roots as solutions to equations of the form that can be understood as values on a number line.

Students begin the lesson by considering whether statements such as are true or not. This requires students to make sense of what cube root notation means (MP6). Next, students reason about the value of a cube root of a number by finding the two whole numbers it is closest to, creating a stepping stone to help them more accurately place the point on a number line. Finally, students think about as the solution to equations of the form and plot these points on a number line.