SAT · Additional Topics in Math · Volume and surface area
Question sat-q-00204
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The question
A cylinder has radius 2 and height 9. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 13π
- 36π
- 18π
- 36π
Show answer & worked solution
Answer: 36π
Worked solution. Volume of a cylinder is πr²h. Here r = 2 and h = 9, so V = π × 2² × 9 = 36π.
Why each wrong choice is wrong. The 2πr × h distractor confuses lateral surface area with volume. Memorize both formulas separately.
Test-day tactic. Volume formula for any prism or cylinder: base area × height. For a cylinder, base area is πr².
About this question type
Items test the volume formulas for the standard solids and (occasionally) surface area. The SAT provides a reference sheet with most of these formulas; the question is whether you can read it under time pressure.
You will see a question shaped like this one on roughly every other official SAT form, typically at an early position in the section, where missing them carries an outsize penalty because the curve assumes everyone in your band gets them right. Treat any miss in this subtopic as a signal to drill the subtopic page before you do another full practice test.