16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryVery hardSurface area of a sphere from its volume

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

A sphere has a volume of 36π. What is its surface area? (For a sphere of radius r, the volume is (4/3)πr³ and the surface area is 4πr².)

  1. A. 36πCorrect
  2. B. 12π
  3. C.
  4. D. 108π

Answer: A. 36π

(4/3)πr³ = 36π gives r³ = 27, so r = 3. Surface area = 4π(3²) = 36π.

Why the other answers are wrong

B. 12π
12π is 4π × 3, using r instead of r².
C.
9π is πr², a great-circle area, not the sphere's surface.
D. 108π
108π is 4π × 27, using r³ instead of r².

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