How does the number of poles in an induction motor determine its speed and torque?
During half of a cycle of the power frequency, the position of a rotor pole moves from one stator pole to the opposite pole of the same pair. If the motor has only two poles, that rotor pole moves back to the original position during the next half cycle. So there is one revolution per cycle of the power frequency. If there are more than two poles, the rotor moves from one pair of poles to another pair of poles during one cycle of the power frequency. Thus Speed(RPM) = 120 f(Hz) / P(poles).

Slip

In an induction motor, the mechanical speed of the rotor is less than the speed of the magnetic fields described above. The difference allows the stator to induce current in the rotor. The difference is very small when the motor has no external mechanical load. For the most common 3-phase motor designs, the slip is about 2 or 3 percent at full-load torque. For single-phase motors, the full-load slip is a little higher.

Power is speed multiplied by torque. Therefore a motor of a given power rating will have a higher torque rating if the speed rating is lower.

The physical size, weight and cost of a motor are more closely related to its torque rating than to power its power rating.