Credit Sprint / Practice problems / Surface area to volume ratio

Surface area to volume ratio practice problems

Biology Unit 2. Try each one, then open the worked solution. The Credit Sprint app generates unlimited new versions with fresh numbers.

Problem 1.

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of a cube-shaped cell with sides of 2 µm?

Show solution

SA = 6 × 2² = 24; V = 2³ = 8; SA:V = 24 ÷ 8 = 3.

Problem 2.

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of a cube-shaped cell with sides of 4 µm?

Show solution

SA = 6 × 4² = 96; V = 4³ = 64; SA:V = 96 ÷ 64 = 1.5.

Problem 3.

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of a cube-shaped cell with sides of 5 µm?

Show solution

SA = 6 × 5² = 150; V = 5³ = 125; SA:V = 150 ÷ 125 = 1.2.

Problem 4.

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of a cube-shaped cell with sides of 3 µm?

Show solution

SA = 6 × 3² = 54; V = 3³ = 27; SA:V = 54 ÷ 27 = 2.

Problem 5.

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of a cube-shaped cell with sides of 3 µm?

Show solution

SA = 6 × 3² = 54; V = 3³ = 27; SA:V = 54 ÷ 27 = 2.

Problem 6.

What is the surface area-to-volume ratio of a cube-shaped cell with sides of 1 µm?

Show solution

SA = 6 × 1² = 6; V = 1³ = 1; SA:V = 6 ÷ 1 = 6.