16Hit1600
Geometry and TrigonometryVery hardEdge ratio from a volume ratio

Geometry and Trigonometry practice question

The volume of cube A is 8 times the volume of cube B. The length of an edge of cube A is how many times the length of an edge of cube B?

Answer: 2

Volume scales with the CUBE of the edge. If the edge is multiplied by k, the volume is multiplied by k³. Here k³ = 8, so k = 2.

Common wrong answers

If you answered 4
4 would be right if 8 were the ratio of AREAS (√8 is not 4 either); for volumes, take the cube root.
If you answered 8
8 is the volume ratio, not the edge ratio; the edge ratio is its cube root.
If you answered 2.67
2.67 is 8/3, dividing by 3 instead of taking the cube root.

More Geometry and Trigonometry questions

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