"Write a program in MIPS assembly language which reads two integers a, b,
calculates a^3 + 3ab^2 + 3a^2b + b^3 and outputs the result."

My question is, how do I calculate powers of things in MIPS? Also I think I probably need to simplify that equation first...does anyone know how I should begin?

code a for loop using jump ,etc .

Sorry i'm an absolute beginner and I've not yet covered loops or jumps, any chance you could expand on that answer?

Just call mul several times in a row.

Thanks, that's what I ended up doing although it was hardly efficient...oh well I'm sure I will learn.

So keep reading and figure out how to make a function out of it then.

Well, it turns out we're not supposed to learn to do that yet, we were supposed to be learning to use mul so I've done it correctly for this particular piece of coursework. Thanks.