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SAT Prep / Geometry and Trigonometry / Area & Volume
SAT Math · Geometry and Trigonometry

Area & VolumeHow the SAT tests it — and how to beat it

Areas of 2D figures and volumes of 3D solids, including composite shapes and problems where scaling changes area or volume.

Practice Area & Volume FreeAll of Geometry and Trigonometry

Area & Volume in Our Question Bank

65

Total questions

33

Easy

21

Medium

11

Hard

What the SAT Actually Tests

Area and volume questions range from direct formula application (the formulas are given in the test's reference sheet) to composite figures, shaded regions, and scaling problems — if a cylinder's radius doubles, what happens to its volume? Real-world versions involve paint coverage, packing boxes, and material costs.

Use the reference sheet — it's there for a reason and lists every needed formula. For composite shapes, decompose into pieces or subtract the hole from the whole. For scaling, remember the exponent rule: lengths scale by k, areas by k², volumes by k³. A doubled radius quadruples a circle's area and (in a cylinder) quadruples volume through the r² term.

Real Area & Volume Practice Questions

Straight from the Grind1600 question bank — try each one before revealing the answer.

Question 1easy
What is the area, in square centimeters, of a rectangle with a length of 15 centimeters and a width of 8 centimeters?
  • A)23
  • B)46
  • C)60
  • D)120
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D

Choice D is correct. The area A of a rectangle is A = l × w. Substituting 15 for l and 8 for w yields A = 15 × 8 = 120. Choice A is incorrect (this is l + w). Choice B is incorrect (this is the perimeter 2(l + w)). Choice C is incorrect (may result from calculation errors).

Question 2medium
A right circular cone has a volume of 36π cubic centimeters. The height of the cone is 4 times the radius of its base. What is the height, in centimeters, of the cone?
  • A)
  • B)
  • C)
  • D)
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: 12

The volume of a cone is V = (1/3)πr²h. The height is 4 times the radius, so h = 4r. Substitute: V = (1/3)πr²(4r) = (4/3)πr³. Set (4/3)πr³ = 36π. Dividing both sides by π gives (4/3)r³ = 36, so r³ = 27 and r = 3. The height is h = 4r = 4(3) = 12. (Stopping at the radius gives 3; the question asks for the height.)

Traps to Avoid

  • Using the diameter as the radius in circle and cylinder formulas.
  • Scaling area or volume linearly when a dimension changes — missing the k² / k³ effect.
  • Answering with the full figure's area when the question asks for the shaded region only.

More Geometry and Trigonometry Skills

Lines, Angles & Triangles

Parallel-line angle relationships, triangle angle sums, similarity and congruence, and the triangle inequality.

Right Triangles & Trigonometry

The Pythagorean theorem, special right triangles, and SOH-CAH-TOA trigonometric ratios, including the sine-cosine complement relationship.

Circles

Circle equations in the xy-plane, arc length, sector area, central angles, and completing the square to find center and radius.

Master Area & Volume With Adaptive Practice

65 Area & Volume questions with step-by-step explanations, woven into a day-by-day study plan built for your test date.

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