SAT Math : Solid Geometry

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for SAT Math

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Example Questions

Example Question #91 : Solid Geometry

The volume of a sphere is 2304π in3.  What is the surface area of this sphere in square inches?

Possible Answers:

36π

144π

576π

None of the other answers

216π

Correct answer:

576π

Explanation:

To solve this, we must first begin by finding the radius of the sphere. To do this, recall that the volume of a sphere is:

V = (4/3)πr3

For our data, we can say:

2304π = (4/3)πr3; 2304 = (4/3)r3; 6912 = 4r3; 1728 = r3; 12 * 12 * 12 = r3; r = 12

Now, based on this, we can ascertain the surface area using the equation:

A = 4πr2

For our data, this is:

A = 4π*122 = 576π

Example Question #1 : Spheres

A sphere has its center at the origin.  A point on its surface is found on the x-y axis at (6,8).  In square units, what is the surface area of this sphere?

Possible Answers:

400π

(400/3)π

40π

200π

None of the other answers

Correct answer:

400π

Explanation:

To find the surface area, we must first find the radius.  Based on our description, this passes from (0,0) to (6,8).  This can be found using the distance formula:

62 + 82 = r2; r2 = 36 + 64; r2 = 100; r = 10

It should be noted that you could have quickly figured this out by seeing that (6,8) is the hypotenuse of a 6-8-10 triangle (which is a multiple of the "easy" 3-4-5).

The rest is easy.  The surface area of the sphere is defined by:

A = 4πr2 = 4 * 100 * π = 400π

Example Question #92 : Solid Geometry

A sphere is perfectly contained within a cube that has a surface area of 726 square units. In square units, what is the surface area of the sphere?

Possible Answers:

484π

121π

11π

None of the other answers

30.25π

Correct answer:

121π

Explanation:

To begin, we must determine the dimensions of the cube. To do this, recall that the surface area of a cube is made up of six squares and is thus defined as: A = 6s2, where s is one of the sides of the cube. For our data, this gives us:

726 = 6s2; 121 = s2; s = 11

Now, if the sphere is contained within the cube, that means that 11 represents the diameter of the sphere. Therefore, the radius of the sphere is 5.5 units. The surface area of a sphere is defined as: A = 4πr2. For our data, that would be:

A = 4π * 5.52 = 30.25 * 4 * π = 121π

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

The area of a circle with radius 4 divided by the surface area of a sphere with radius 2 is equal to:

Possible Answers:

3

2

0.5

π

1

Correct answer:

1

Explanation:

The surface area of a sphere is 4πr2. The area of a circle is πr2. 16/16 is equal to 1.

Example Question #13 : Spheres

What is the ratio of the surface area of a cube to the surface area of a sphere inscribed within it?

Possible Answers:

6/π

2π

π/3

3/π

4/π

Correct answer:

6/π

Explanation:

Let's call the radius of the sphere r. The formula for the surface area of a sphere (A) is given below:

A = 4πr2

Because the sphere is inscribed inside the cube, the diameter of the sphere is equal to the side length of the cube. Because the diameter is twice the length of the radius, the diameter of the sphere is 2r. This means that the side length of the cube is also 2r

The surface area for a cube is given by the following formula, where s represents the length of each side of the cube:

surface area of cube = 6s2

The formula for surface area of a cube comes from the fact that each face of the cube has an area of s2, and there are 6 faces total on a cube. 

Since we already determined that the side length of the cube is the same as 2r, we can replace s with 2r.

surface area of cube = 6(2r)= 6(2r)(2r) = 24r2.

We are asked to find the ratio of the surface area of the cube to the surface area of the sphere. This means we must divide the surface area of the cube by the surface area of the sphere.

ratio = (24r2)/(4πr2)

The rterm cancels in the numerator and denominator. Also, 24/4 simplifes to 6.

ratio = (24r2)/(4πr2) = 6/π

The answer is 6/π.

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

What is the surface area of a hemisphere with a diameter of 4\ cm?

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

A hemisphere is half of a sphere.  The surface area is broken into two parts:  the spherical part and the circular base. 

The surface area of a sphere is given by SA = 4\pi r^{2}.

So the surface area of the spherical part of a hemisphere is SA = 2\pi r^{2}

The area of the circular base is given by A = \pi r^{2}.  The radius to use is half the diameter, or 2 cm.

Example Question #9 : How To Find The Surface Area Of A Sphere

Six spheres have surface areas that form an arithmetic sequence. The two smallest spheres have radii 4 and 6. Give the surface area of the largest sphere.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The surface area of a sphere with radius  can be determined using the formula

.

The smallest sphere, with radius , has surface area 

The second-smallest sphere, with radius , has surface area 

The surface areas are in an arithmetic sequence; their common difference is the difference of these two surface areas, or

Since the six surface areas are in an arithmetic sequence, the surface area of the largest of the six spheres - that is, the sixth-smallest sphere - is

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

The radii of six spheres form an arithmetic sequence. The smallest and largest spheres have radii 10 and 30, respectively. Give the surface area of the second-smallest sphere.

Possible Answers:

None of the other responses gives a correct answer.

Correct answer:

Explanation:

The radii of the spheres form an arithmetic sequence, with 

 and 

The common difference  can be computed as follows:

The second-smallest sphere has radius 

The surface area of a sphere with radius  can be determined using the formula

.

Setting , we get

.

Example Question #94 : Solid Geometry

Find the surface area of a sphere with radius 1.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve, use the formula for the surface are a of a sphere.

Substitute in the radius of one into the following equation.

Thus,

Example Question #92 : Solid Geometry

Find the surface area of a sphere whose radius is 5.

Possible Answers:

Correct answer:

Explanation:

To solve, simply use the formula for the surface area of a sphere. Thus,

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