16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryVery hardVolume remaining after a hole is drilled

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

A cube has edges of length 4. A cylindrical hole of radius 1 is drilled straight through the cube from the centre of one face to the centre of the opposite face. What is the volume of the solid that remains?

  1. A. 64 − 4πCorrect
  2. B. 64 − π
  3. C. 64 − 16π
  4. D. 60

Answer: A. 64 − 4π

Cube volume: 4³ = 64. The hole is a cylinder of radius 1 and height 4 (the full edge): π(1²)(4) = 4π. Remaining: 64 − 4π.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 64 − π
π is the area of the hole's circular cross-section; the removed VOLUME multiplies that by the length of the hole, 4.
C. 64 − 16π
16π uses the cube's edge as the radius. The hole's radius is 1, so its cross-section is π, and the volume is 4π.
D. 60
60 treats the hole's volume as 4 instead of 4π.

More Geometry and Trigonometry questions

Not affiliated with the College Board. SAT is a trademark of the College Board.