Answer :

9 square units is basically 9 to the second power (9^2) while 9 cubic units is 9 cubed (9^3)


9 sq. units refers to a 2d figure
9 cubed units refers to a 3d figure

so
9*9 would be sq. unit cuz dimensions of square
9*9*9 would be cubed unit cuz dimensions of cube
so in simple, 9^2,
and 9^3