ISEE Upper Level Quantitative : Circles

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

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #3 : How To Find The Length Of A Radius

The tip of the minute hand of a giant clock has traveled  feet since noon. It is now 2:30 PM. Which is the greater quantity?

(A) The length of the minute hand

(B) Three yards

Possible Answers:

(A) is greater

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

(B) is greater

(A) and (B) are equal

Correct answer:

(B) is greater

Explanation:

Betwen noon and 2:30 PM, the minute hand has made two and one-half revolutions; that is, the tip of minute hand has traveled the circumference of its circle two and one-half times. Therefore, 

 feet.

The radius of this circle  is the length of the minute hand. We can use the circumference formula to find this:

The minute hand is eight feet long, which is less than three yards (nine feet), so (B0 is greater.

Example Question #141 : Isee Upper Level (Grades 9 12) Quantitative Reasoning

Compare the two quantities:

Quantity A: The radius of a circle with area of 

Quantity B: The radius of a circle with circumference of 

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The quantity in Column A is greater.

 

The two quantities are equal.

The quantity in Column B is greater. 

Correct answer:

The quantity in Column B is greater. 

Explanation:

Recall for this question that the formulae for the area and circumference of a circle are, respectively:

For our two quantities, we have:

Quantity A

Therefore, 

Taking the square root of both sides, we get: 

Quantity B

Therefore, 

Therefore, quantity B is greater.

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Length Of A Radius

Compare the two quantities:

Quantity A: The radius of a circle with area of 

Quantity B: The radius of a circle with circumference of 

 

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The two quantities are equal.

The quantity in Column B is greater. 

The quantity in Column A is greater.

Correct answer:

The two quantities are equal.

Explanation:

Recall for this question that the formulae for the area and circumference of a circle are, respectively:

For our two quantities, we have:

Quantity A

Therefore, 

Taking the square root of both sides, we get: 

Quantity B

Therefore, 

Therefore, the two quantities are equal.

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Radius

If the diameter of a circle is equal to , then what is the value of the radius?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

Given that the radius is equal to half the diameter, the value of the radius would be equal to  divided by 2. This gives us:

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Radius

The area of a circle is . Give its radius in terms of .

(Assume  is positive.)

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The relation between the area of a circle  and its radius  is given by the formula

Since 

:

We solve for :

Since  is positive, as is :

Example Question #1 : How To Find The Length Of A Radius

The areas of five circles form an arithmetic sequence. The smallest circle has radius 4; the second smallest circle has radius 8. Give the radius of the largest circle.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The area of a circle with radius  is . Therefore, the areas of the circles with radii 4 and 8, respectively, are

and 

The areas form an arithmetic sequence, the common difference of which is 

.

The circles will have areas:

 

Since the area of the largest circle is , we can find the radius as follows:

The radius can be calculated now:

Example Question #1 : Radius

Circle B has a radius  as long as that of Circle A.

Which is the greater quantity?

(a) The area of Circle A

(b) Twice the area of Circle B

Possible Answers:

(b) is greater.

(a) and (b) are equal.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(a) is greater.

Correct answer:

(a) is greater.

Explanation:

If we call the radius of Circle A , then the radius of Circle B is .

The areas of the circles are:

(a) 

(b) 

Twice the area of Circle B is

 ,

making (a) the greater number.

Example Question #2 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

Circle 1 is inscribed inside a square. The square is inscribed inside Circle 2.

Which is the greater quantity? 

(a) Twice the area of Circle 1

(b) The area of Circle 2

Possible Answers:

(a) and (b) are equal.

It is impossible to tell from the information given.

(a) is greater.

(b) is greater.

Correct answer:

(a) and (b) are equal.

Explanation:

If the radius of Circle 1 is , then the square will have sidelength equal to the diameter of the circle, or . Circle 2 will have as its diameter the length of a diagonal of the square, which by the  Theorem is  times that, or . The radius of Circle 2 will therefore be half that, or .

The area of Circle 1 will be . The area of Circle 2 will be , twice that of Circle 1.

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

Compare the two quantities:

Quantity A: The area of a circle with radius 

Quantity B: The circumference of a circle with radius 

Possible Answers:

The relationship cannot be determined from the information given.

The quantity in Column A is greater.

The two quantities are equal.

The quantity in Column B is greater.

Correct answer:

The quantity in Column A is greater.

Explanation:

Recall for this question that the formulae for the area and circumference of a circle are, respectively:

For our two quantities, we have:

Quantity A: 

Quantity B: 

Therefore, quantity A is greater.

Example Question #4 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

The radius of a circle is . Give the area of the circle in terms of .

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The area of a circle with radius  can be found using the formula

Since , the area is

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors