Spheres: Are they on the GMAT? (2013)

[meredithpn]

Are Spheres tested on the GMAT (Volume and Surface area)? Thanks in advance for your help!

[tim]

I've never heard of sphere questions showing up on the GMAT.

[meredithpn]

Thanks!

[tim]

No problem!

[RonPurewal]

There's a problem in the OG Diagnostic chapter (multiple-choice #20) that involves a sphere. But it's purely a visualization problem; you don't need to deal with volume or surface area.

If they do put a sphere in a problem, they will almost certainly supply you with any necessary formula(s) -- this is a test that goes out of its way not to give problems that discriminate on the basis of memorized knowledge.

[meredithpn]

Ironically, just after I asked this question, I encountered sphere problem on my next mgmat CAT:

"A sphere is inscribed in a cube with an edge of 10. What is the shortest possible distance from one of the vertices of the cube to the surface of the sphere?"

As you said, it's not asking about SA or Volume. So in the end, this question is fair game?

[RonPurewal]

Ironically, just after I asked this question, I encountered sphere problem on my next mgmat CAT:

"A sphere is inscribed in a cube with an edge of 10. What is the shortest possible distance from one of the vertices of the cube to the surface of the sphere?"

As you said, it's not asking about SA or Volume. So in the end, this question is fair game?

Anything that doesn't require memorized formulas is fair game. In that problem, the only relevant quality of the sphere is its radius, so, ya, definitely legit.