BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

Target Test Prep · GMAT

Choose how you want to prepare

Learn live with an expert or move at your own pace. Every option includes the complete TTP study system.

★★★★★5.0559 reviews
GMATLiveTeach Starts Oct 17
Chris Peckover, Target Test Prep GMAT expert
LIVE ONLINE CLASSES

Get Ready for GMAT Test Day Faster with Live Online Classes

with Chris Peckover, 100th-Percentile GMAT Scorer

Oct 17 · Chris Peckover
Sat · 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM ET
Oct 20 · Chris Peckover
Tue, Thu · 8:00 to 10:00 PM ET
Oct 25 · Josh Braslow
Sun · 1:00 to 4:00 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes + 6 months of TTP OnDemand
  • Attend the first class for free
  • Every class is recorded, so you never fall behind
View classes & enroll
Limited seats availableTarget Test Prep
EALiveTeachOnDemand 5 seats left Start anytime
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Target Test Prep EA OnDemand

Self-paced EA prep. Study on your schedule.

Logan Thompson
EXECUTIVE ASSESSMENT

Sep 6 to Dec 6, 2026

with Logan Thompson

165+ EA score guarantee
$05-day trial no automatic billing
Schedule
Sun · 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM ET
Included
40 hours of live online classes plus six months of access to the complete TTP EA OnDemand course.
  • 165+ EA Score Guarantee
  • 4,100+ Quant, Verbal, and Integrated Reasoning practice questions
  • 400+ hours of in-depth video lessons
  • 3,000+ step-by-step video solutions
View EA class & enroll Start free 5-day trial
Limited cohort · enrollment openTrial includes full course accessTarget Test Prep
GMATOnDemand Start anytime
SELF-PACED MASTERCLASS

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Complete access from day one. Study on your schedule.

715+ score guarantee
$0to start then $127/mo
  • Personalized study plan and analytics
  • Thousands of lessons and practice questions

Compare the format, schedule, and included access before enrolling. Prices and seat counts shown reflect the supplied offer details.

13th edition diagnostic exam question #5

Expert replies
by msbelasco » Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:29 am
Question:
A closed cylindrical tank contains 36(pie) cubic ft of water and is filled to half its capacity. When the tank is placed in its upright position on its circular base on level ground, the height of the water tank is 2 feet. When the tank is placed on its side on level ground, what is the height, in feet, on the surface of the water above the ground?

I need some clarification on this.

I understand the idea is to find the radius of the base, however, in order to find the correct radius you must know what the cylinder's volume is at full capacity correct? I thought the correct way to do this question would be to double what the volume was at half capacity from 36(pie) to 72(pie) for the full volume of the cylinder, as well as double the height of the water from 2 to 4, in order to find the correct measurement of the radius. So, the equation I used was as follows:

72(pie) = (pie)r^2 x 4

Only the official guide claims to just use the volume at half capacity, which was 36(pie), but wouldn't the volume of 36(pie) give you a inaccurate measurement of the radius because this is only half the volume capacity of the cylinder? Please help!
Join the discussion
Source: — Problem Solving |

by KapTeacherEli » Fri Jul 27, 2012 11:14 am
The volume of 36pi has a height of two--in other words, you can divide both sides of your equation by 2 and the result will be the equation in the OG explanation. They're the same thing!
Eli Meyer
Kaplan GMAT Teacher
Cambridge, MA
www.kaptest.com/gmat

ImageImageImage
Join the discussion

by msbelasco » Fri Jul 27, 2012 2:34 pm
Thank you for your response!

yes, that is what I thought, but the OG explanation says that the following is the correct formula:

36(pie)= (pie)r^2 x 4

If I'm not mistaken, you are saying the equation will either be

36(pie) = (pie)r^2 x 2

or

72(pie) = (pie)r^2 x 4

The formula they provide, shown above, is what they use, and their conclusion is that the radius is 3. Doing it the way I assumed it should have been done, which i believe is the same way you are claiming, my answer is 3(the square root of)2. Can you please help further? Thanks for your time. [/b]
Join the discussion

by KapTeacherEli » Sat Jul 28, 2012 9:07 am
Let me track down a copy of the OG--I'll get back to you Monday!
Eli Meyer
Kaplan GMAT Teacher
Cambridge, MA
www.kaptest.com/gmat

ImageImageImage
Join the discussion

by KapTeacherEli » Fri Aug 03, 2012 12:25 pm
All right--as near as I can tell, this question stem uses somewhat ambiguous language, which is surprising, but apparently official. As near as I can tell, when it says that the cylinder "contains" 36pi cubic feet of water, that means that the capacity is 36pi--not it's currently filled amount. Since it is filled halfway, the current volume of water in the tank is actually 18pi--therefore, 18pi = pi r ^2 * (2) or 36pi = pi r^2 * (4) are, respectively, the formulas to calculate the radius based on the volume of the entire tank and the volume of the actual water.

This was definitely a tough one, though--thanks for your patience while I looked into it!
Eli Meyer
Kaplan GMAT Teacher
Cambridge, MA
www.kaptest.com/gmat

ImageImageImage
Join the discussion

by msbelasco » Fri Aug 03, 2012 12:51 pm
Thanks for the response, Eli! Actually,I'm finding many problems with vague wording that have resulted in wrong answers in the OG, which has me really concerned.
Join the discussion

by aanavek » Thu Sep 27, 2012 1:13 pm
This one really was so confusing for me, there sure is difference between "can contain" vs "contains". I don't quite understand how "contains" needs to be interpreted as "max capacity".
Join the discussion

by GMATGuruNY » Thu Sep 27, 2012 7:38 pm
msbelasco wrote:Question:
A closed cylindrical tank contains 36(pie) cubic ft of water and is filled to half its capacity. When the tank is placed in its upright position on its circular base on level ground, the height of the water tank is 2 feet. When the tank is placed on its side on level ground, what is the height, in feet, on the surface of the water above the ground?

I need some clarification on this.

I understand the idea is to find the radius of the base, however, in order to find the correct radius you must know what the cylinder's volume is at full capacity correct? I thought the correct way to do this question would be to double what the volume was at half capacity from 36(pie) to 72(pie) for the full volume of the cylinder, as well as double the height of the water from 2 to 4, in order to find the correct measurement of the radius. So, the equation I used was as follows:

72(pie) = (pie)r^2 x 4

Only the official guide claims to just use the volume at half capacity, which was 36(pie), but wouldn't the volume of 36(pie) give you a inaccurate measurement of the radius because this is only half the volume capacity of the cylinder? Please help!
I suspect that 2 feet is a misprint. in the OG12, the height of the water is given as 4 feet.
Private tutor exclusively for the GMAT and GRE, with over 20 years of experience.
Followed here and elsewhere by over 1900 test-takers.
I have worked with students based in the US, Australia, Taiwan, China, Tajikistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia -- a long list of countries.
My students have been admitted to HBS, CBS, Tuck, Yale, Stern, Fuqua -- a long list of top programs.

As a tutor, I don't simply teach you how I would approach problems.
I unlock the best way for YOU to solve problems.

For more information, please email me (Mitch Hunt) at [email protected].
Student Review #1
Student Review #2
Student Review #3
Join the discussion

by aceacharya » Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:49 pm
yep the talk on other forums is the same that it is a misprint in the 13th edition of the OG
Join the discussion

by imtheboss » Wed Jun 05, 2013 9:45 pm
THANK YOU for the strong suggestion that this is a misprint! I thought I was going crazy. I also thought that 36pi = half volume of the cylinder.
Join the discussion

by victoryspear » Tue Jan 14, 2014 10:38 am
Hi,

I would suggest that MBA.com publishes this as an errata on the website.
It feels strange to have a vaguely worded question and answers that don't really fit in!

Regards,
Vetrivel
Join the discussion