GCSE Mathematics (9-1)

5.6 Comparing lengths, areas and volumes — Practise with help

Try each question first. Open a hint if you are stuck, the next step for one concrete move, and the full working only to check.

Warm-up: remember

Answer these from memory. Do not look back at the section.

  1. Work out 626^2.
  2. Work out 232^3.
Check the warm-up
  1. 62=366^2=36.
  2. 23=82^3=8.

If an answer differs, revisit Section 3.1 for squares and cubes.

Practise with help

1. Similar shapes have length scale factor 2.5. The smaller area is 12 cm2^2. Find the larger area.

Hint

Square the length scale factor to get the area scale factor.

Next step

The area factor is 2.52=6.252.5^2=6.25.

Full working

The larger area is 12×6.25=7512\times6.25=75 cm2^2.

2. Similar solids have length scale factor 3. The smaller volume is 20 cm3^3. Find the larger volume.

Hint

Cube the length scale factor to get the volume scale factor.

Next step

The volume factor is 33=273^3=27.

Full working

The larger volume is 20×27=54020\times27=540 cm3^3.

3. Two similar solids have volumes 4040 cm3^3 and 320320 cm3^3. Find the length scale factor from small to large.

Hint

Find the volume factor first, then take its cube root.

Next step

320÷40=8320\div40=8, so the volume factor is 8.

Full working

The length factor is 83=2\sqrt[3]{8}=2. Check: 23=82^3=8.

4. Earlier learning. Work out 434^3.

Hint

A cube multiplies the number by itself three times.

Next step

43=4×4×44^3=4\times4\times4.

Full working

43=644^3=64. This section cubes the length factor to find the volume factor.

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