SSATSuite
Know Your Keywords — Math, Advanced

Point 16Similar 3-D figures

What do we see?

Similar cones, similar cylinders, or similar prisms.

What do we understand?
  • Length — a : b
  • Perimeter — a : b
  • Surface area — a2 : b2
  • Volume — a3 : b3
Tips & traps

Stub errors come especially from prism and pyramid volumes — using or forgetting the 1/3.

If the figures are not similar, the volume ratio depends on the actual sides: with H = 3h and R = 6r, the new volume is 6 × 6 × 3 times the old.

Question 1 of 3

ConeRadiusVolume
A5125π
B?1000π

For two right circular cones, with heights h1, h2 and diameters d1, d2 respectively, the cones are similar if h1h2 = d1d2. The table summarizes the dimensions and volumes of two right circular cones A and B. Find the height of cone B.