1. Let's clarify the question: "Why is the first one cubed?" This usually refers to an expression where the first term is raised to the power of 3. 2. The cube of a number or expression means multiplying it by itself three times. For example, if the first term is $a$, then cubing it means calculating $a^3 = a \times a \times a$. 3. Cubing is used in various contexts, such as volume calculations (e.g., volume of a cube is side length cubed), or in algebraic expressions where powers represent repeated multiplication. 4. If you have a specific expression or problem, the first term might be cubed due to the problem's requirements or the formula being applied. 5. Without a specific expression, the general rule is: the exponent 3 means the base is multiplied by itself three times. 6. If you provide the exact expression or context, I can explain why the first term is cubed in that case.