SAT Math : Plane Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

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

There are two identical circles on a plane that overlap. The radius of both circles is 1. The region in which they overlap has an area of π.

What is the total area of the 2 overlapping circles?

Possible Answers:

0

2π

2

π

1

Correct answer:

π

Explanation:

The total area of both circles is π + π = 2π

Since the region overlaps, we cannot count it twice, so we must subtract it.

we get 2π – π = π

Example Question #1 : Basic Geometry

A square with a side length of 4 inches is inscribed in a circle, as shown below. What is the area of the unshaded region inside of the circle, in square inches?

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Possible Answers:

8π-4

4π-4

2π-4

8π-8

8π - 16

Correct answer:

8π - 16

Explanation:

Using the Pythagorean Theorem, the diameter of the circle (also the diagonal of the square) can be found to be 4√2.  Thus, the radius of the circle is half of the diameter, or 2√2.  The area of the circle is then π(2√2)2, which equals 8π.  Next, the area of the square must be subtracted from the entire circle, yielding an area of 8π-16 square inches.

Example Question #5 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

If a circle has a circumference of 16π, what would its area be if its radius were halved?

 

 

Possible Answers:

64π

16π

Correct answer:

16π

Explanation:

The circumference of a circle = πd where d = diameter.  Therefore, this circle’s diameter must equal 16.  Knowing that diameter = 2 times the radius, we can determine that the radius of this circle = 8.  Halving the radius would give us a new radius of 4.  To find the area of this new circle, use the formula A=πr² where r = radius.  Plug in 4 for r.  Area will equal 16π.

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

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A star is inscribed in a circle with a diameter of 30, given the area of the star is 345, find the area of the shaded region, rounded to one decimal.

Possible Answers:

351.5

341.5

346.5

356.5

361.5

Correct answer:

361.5

Explanation:

The area of the circle is (30/2)2*3.14 (π) = 706.5, since the shaded region is simply the area difference between the circle and the star, it’s 706.5-345 = 361.5

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

The diameter of a circle increases by 100 percent. If the original area is 16π, what is the new area of the circle?

Possible Answers:

54π

160π

50π

49π

64π

Correct answer:

64π

Explanation:

The original radius would be 4, making the new radius 8 and by the area of a circle (A=π(r)2) the new area would be 64π.

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

A circle with a diameter of 6” sits inside a circle with a radius of 8”.  What is the area of the interstitial space between the two circles?

Possible Answers:

28π in2

72π in2

7π in2

55π in2

25π in2

Correct answer:

55π in2

Explanation:

The area of a circle is πr2

The diameter of the first circle = 6” so radius of the first circle = 3” so the area = π * 32 = 9π in2

The radius of the second circle = 8” so the area = π * 82 = 64π in2

The area of the interstitial space = area of the first circle – area of the second circle.

Area = 64π in2  - 9π in2 = 55π in2

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

If the radius of a circle is tripled, and the new area is 144π what was the diameter of the original circle?

Possible Answers:

6

12

8

7

4

Correct answer:

8

Explanation:

The area of a circle is A=πr2. Since the radius was tripled 144π =π(3r)2. Divide by π and then take the square root of both sides of the equal sign to get 12=3r, and then r=4. The diameter (d) is equal to twice the radius so d= 2(4) = 8.

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

If the radius of Circle A is three times the radius of Circle B, what is the ratio of the area of Circle A to the area of Circle B?

Possible Answers:

15

3

9

6

12

Correct answer:

9

Explanation:

We know that the equation for the area of a circle is π r2. To solve this problem, we pick radii for Circles A and B, making sure that Circle A’s radius is three times Circle B’s radius, as the problem specifies. Then we will divide the resulting areas of the two circles. For example, if we say that Circle A has radius 6 and Circle B has radius 2, then the ratio of the area of Circle A to B is: (π 62)/(π 22) = 36π/4π. From here, the π's cancel out, leaving 36/4 = 9.

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

  1. A circle is inscribed inside a 10 by 10 square. What is the area of the circle?

 

Possible Answers:

10π

25π

40π

100π

50π

Correct answer:

25π

Explanation:

         Area of a circle = A = πr2

         R = 1/2d = ½(10) = 5

         A = 52π = 25π

Example Question #11 : How To Find The Area Of A Circle

A square has an area of 1089 in2. If a circle is inscribed within the square, what is its area?

Possible Answers:

1089π in2

33π in2

33 in2

272.25π in2

16.5 in2

Correct answer:

272.25π in2

Explanation:

The diameter of the circle is the length of a side of the square. Therefore, first solve for the length of the square's sides. The area of the square is:

A = s2 or 1089 = s2. Taking the square root of both sides, we get: s = 33.

Now, based on this, we know that 2r = 33 or r = 16.5. The area of the circle is πr2 or π16.52 = 272.25π.

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