ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : How to find the surface area of a sphere

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for ISEE Upper Level Quantitative

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Example Questions

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Sphere

In terms of , give the surface area, in square inches, of a spherical water tank with a diameter of 20 feet.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

 feet =  inches, the diameter of the tank; half of this, or 120 inches, is the radius. Set , substitute in the surface area formula, and solve for :

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Sphere

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) The surface area of a sphere with radius 1

(b) 12

Possible Answers:

(a) and (b) are equal.

(b) is greater.

(a) is greater.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

Correct answer:

(a) is greater.

Explanation:

The surface area of a sphere can be found using the formula

.

The surface area of the given sphere can be found by substituting :

 so , or 

This makes (a) greater.

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Sphere

Sphere A has volume . Sphere B has surface area . Which is the greater quantity?

(a) The radius of Sphere A

(b) The radius of Sphere B

Possible Answers:

(a) is greater

It is impossible to tell from the information given

(a) and (b) are equal

(b) is greater

Correct answer:

(b) is greater

Explanation:

(a) Substitute  in the formula for the volume of a sphere:

 inches

(b) Substitute  in the formula for the surface area of a sphere:

 inches

(b) is greater.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Sphere

 is a positive number. Which is the greater quantity?

(A) The surface area of a sphere with radius 

(B) The surface area of a cube with edges of length 

Possible Answers:

(A) is greater

It is impossible to determine which is greater from the information given

(A) and (B) are equal 

(B) is greater

Correct answer:

(B) is greater

Explanation:

The surface area of a sphere is  times the square of its radius, which here is ; the surface area of the sphere in (A) is .

The area of one face of a cube is the square of the length of an edge, which here is , so the area of one face of the cube in (B) is . The cube has six faces so the total surface area is .

, so , giving the sphere less surface area. (B) is greater.

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