SAT · Additional Topics in Math · Volume and surface area
Question sat-q-00205
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The question
A cylinder has radius 2 and height 6. What is its volume, in terms of π?
- 10π
- 24π
- 24π
- 12π
Show answer & worked solution
Answer: 24π
Worked solution. Volume of a cylinder is πr²h. Here r = 2 and h = 6, so V = π × 2² × 6 = 24π.
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 a moderate position in the section — solidly within the range that separates a 600-band student from a 700-band student. Treat any miss in this subtopic as a signal to drill the subtopic page before you do another full practice test.