Choose a formula by the shape and the requested measurement. Areas have square units, while volumes have cubic units. A perpendicular height may differ from a slanted edge.
Key Rules
Rectangle area is length × width; triangle area is half of base × perpendicular height.
A prism’s volume is base area × perpendicular height.
A cylinder’s volume is πr²h; a cone with the same base and height has one third that volume.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Using diameter in place of radius.
Multiplying by a slant length when the formula requires perpendicular height.
SAT Strategy Tips
→Write square or cubic units with the final result.
→If all lengths scale by k, area scales by k² and volume by k³.
Example Question
A cylinder has radius 3 units and height 5 units. What is its volume?
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