GRE Math : How to find the volume of a sphere
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Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere
How much does the volume of a sphere increase if its radius is increased by 50%?
150%
337.5%
0.3375%
237.5%
50%
237.5%
Recall the equation for the volume of a sphere:
V = (4/3)πr3
If we increase the radius by 50%, we can represent the new radius as being equal to r + 0.5r = 1.5r.
Replace this into the equation for the volume and simplify:
V2 = (4/3)π(1.5r)3 = (4/3)π(3.375r3)
Rewrite this so that you can compare the two volumes:
V2 = 3.375 * (4/3)πr3 = 3.375 * [(4/3)πr3]
This is the same as:
V2 = 3.375 * V
This means that the new volume is 337.5% of the original. However, note that the question asked for the increase, which would be an increase by 237.5%.
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere
A cube weighs 216 grams. If you carve a sphere out of the cube such that the diameter of the sphere is equal to one of the sides of the square, how many grams is the weight of the resulting sphere?
36π
288π
9π
216π
144π
36π
Remember that the weight of an object is analogous to the volume. Since the weight of the sphere is 216, the volume of the sphere is proportional to 216. Remember the equation for volume of a sphere:
V = a * a * a = 216
Take the cube root of 216 to find that the length of one of the cubes is proportional to 6. According to the question, one of the sides of the cube is equivalent to the diameter of the sphere.
Thus d = 6 and r = d/2 = 3 for the sphere.
Remember the volume equation for a sphere:
V = 4/3 * π * r3
Plug in r = 3 to find V = 36π
Example Question #1 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere
What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 3?
48π
24π
96π
112π
36π
36π
Volume of a sphere = 4/3 * πr3 = 4/3 * π * 33 = 36π
Example Question #2 : How To Find The Volume Of A Sphere
How many times greater is the volume of a sphere with radius of 3 than the volume of a sphere with radius of 
The formula for the volume of a sphere is 
Use this to find the volume of each sphere, then take the quotient of the two volumes to determine the relationship between the two.
For the first sphere, 
For the second sphere, 
Since both volumes have factors of 4/3 and pi, we'll ignore those and divide by the remaining factors. Keep in mind that the volume of the first sphere must be in the numerator due to the wording of the question.
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