∫Calc Practice
Home›Calculus 3›Equations of spheres

Equations of spheres practice problems

Spheres: the standard equation from a center and radius, and the center and radius from a general equation. 60 problems with worked solutions; in 60 of them every equation is proved by a computer algebra system.

20 worked problems

Try each one before opening the solution. Every line is labeled with what checked it. How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 2 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 17 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 2 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 17 = \left(x + 1\right)^{2} + \left(y + 4\right)^{2} + \left(z + 4\right)^{2} - 16 \]
    So (x − -1)² + (y − -4)² + (z − -4)² = 16.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-1, -4, -4),\ \text{radius } 4 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} + z^{2} + 8 z + 19 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} + z^{2} + 8 z + 19 = y^{2} + \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(z + 4\right)^{2} - 1 \]
    So (x − 2)² + (y − 0)² + (z − -4)² = 1.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (2, 0, -4),\ \text{radius } 1 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} - 4 y + z^{2} - 6 z + 13 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} - 4 y + z^{2} - 6 z + 13 = \left(x + 2\right)^{2} + \left(y - 2\right)^{2} + \left(z - 3\right)^{2} - 4 \]
    So (x − -2)² + (y − 2)² + (z − 3)² = 4.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-2, 2, 3),\ \text{radius } 2 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + y^{2} + 10 y + z^{2} - 10 z + 25 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + y^{2} + 10 y + z^{2} - 10 z + 25 = x^{2} + \left(y + 5\right)^{2} + \left(z - 5\right)^{2} - 25 \]
    So (x − 0)² + (y − -5)² + (z − 5)² = 25.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (0, -5, 5),\ \text{radius } 5 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 8 x + y^{2} + 2 y + z^{2} + 8 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 8 x + y^{2} + 2 y + z^{2} + 8 = z^{2} + \left(x + 4\right)^{2} + \left(y + 1\right)^{2} - 9 \]
    So (x − -4)² + (y − -1)² + (z − 0)² = 9.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-4, -1, 0),\ \text{radius } 3 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} - 2 z + 20 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} - 2 z + 20 = \left(x + 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 4\right)^{2} + \left(z - 1\right)^{2} - 1 \]
    So (x − -2)² + (y − -4)² + (z − 1)² = 1.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-2, -4, 1),\ \text{radius } 1 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} - 2 y + z^{2} + 6 z + 5 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} - 2 y + z^{2} + 6 z + 5 = \left(x + 2\right)^{2} + \left(y - 1\right)^{2} + \left(z + 3\right)^{2} - 9 \]
    So (x − -2)² + (y − 1)² + (z − -3)² = 9.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-2, 1, -3),\ \text{radius } 3 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} + 2 y + z^{2} + 4 z = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} + 2 y + z^{2} + 4 z = \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 1\right)^{2} + \left(z + 2\right)^{2} - 9 \]
    So (x − 2)² + (y − -1)² + (z − -2)² = 9.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (2, -1, -2),\ \text{radius } 3 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (2, -3, 3) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 3 \), in standard form.
  1. A sphere is every point at distance r from the center: (x − h)² + (y − k)² + (z − l)² = r².
    Reviewed
  2. \[ \left. \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 3\right)^{2} + \left(z - 3\right)^{2} \right|_{\substack{ x=5\\ y=-3\\ z=3 }} = 9 \]
    A point at distance r along the x-direction is on it.✓ Proved
Answer \( \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 3\right)^{2} + \left(z - 3\right)^{2} = 9 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 8 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} + 2 z + 17 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 8 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} + 2 z + 17 = \left(x - 4\right)^{2} + \left(y + 4\right)^{2} + \left(z + 1\right)^{2} - 16 \]
    So (x − 4)² + (y − -4)² + (z − -1)² = 16.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (4, -4, -1),\ \text{radius } 4 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-4, -3, -3) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 5 \), in standard form.
  1. A sphere is every point at distance r from the center: (x − h)² + (y − k)² + (z − l)² = r².
    Reviewed
  2. \[ \left. \left(x + 4\right)^{2} + \left(y + 3\right)^{2} + \left(z + 3\right)^{2} \right|_{\substack{ x=1\\ y=-3\\ z=-3 }} = 25 \]
    A point at distance r along the x-direction is on it.✓ Proved
Answer \( \left(x + 4\right)^{2} + \left(y + 3\right)^{2} + \left(z + 3\right)^{2} = 25 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + y^{2} - 8 y + z^{2} - 2 z + 8 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + y^{2} - 8 y + z^{2} - 2 z + 8 = x^{2} + \left(y - 4\right)^{2} + \left(z - 1\right)^{2} - 9 \]
    So (x − 0)² + (y − 4)² + (z − 1)² = 9.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (0, 4, 1),\ \text{radius } 3 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 2 x + y^{2} - 10 y + z^{2} - 6 z + 10 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 2 x + y^{2} - 10 y + z^{2} - 6 z + 10 = \left(x - 1\right)^{2} + \left(y - 5\right)^{2} + \left(z - 3\right)^{2} - 25 \]
    So (x − 1)² + (y − 5)² + (z − 3)² = 25.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (1, 5, 3),\ \text{radius } 5 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} + 6 y + z^{2} - 2 z - 22 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} + 6 y + z^{2} - 2 z - 22 = \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 3\right)^{2} + \left(z - 1\right)^{2} - 36 \]
    So (x − 2)² + (y − -3)² + (z − 1)² = 36.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (2, -3, 1),\ \text{radius } 6 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (2, -2, -5) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
  1. A sphere is every point at distance r from the center: (x − h)² + (y − k)² + (z − l)² = r².
    Reviewed
  2. \[ \left. \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 2\right)^{2} + \left(z + 5\right)^{2} \right|_{\substack{ x=4\\ y=-2\\ z=-5 }} = 4 \]
    A point at distance r along the x-direction is on it.✓ Proved
Answer \( \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y + 2\right)^{2} + \left(z + 5\right)^{2} = 4 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 10 x + y^{2} + 10 y + z^{2} - 10 z + 59 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 10 x + y^{2} + 10 y + z^{2} - 10 z + 59 = \left(x - 5\right)^{2} + \left(y + 5\right)^{2} + \left(z - 5\right)^{2} - 16 \]
    So (x − 5)² + (y − -5)² + (z − 5)² = 16.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (5, -5, 5),\ \text{radius } 4 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} - 2 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 5 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} - 2 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 5 = \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y - 1\right)^{2} + \left(z + 4\right)^{2} - 16 \]
    So (x − 2)² + (y − 1)² + (z − -4)² = 16.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (2, 1, -4),\ \text{radius } 4 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} - 6 y + z^{2} + 12 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} - 6 y + z^{2} + 12 = z^{2} + \left(x - 2\right)^{2} + \left(y - 3\right)^{2} - 1 \]
    So (x − 2)² + (y − 3)² + (z − 0)² = 1.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (2, 3, 0),\ \text{radius } 1 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 8 x + y^{2} + 4 y + z^{2} + 6 z - 7 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 8 x + y^{2} + 4 y + z^{2} + 6 z - 7 = \left(x + 4\right)^{2} + \left(y + 2\right)^{2} + \left(z + 3\right)^{2} - 36 \]
    So (x − -4)² + (y − -2)² + (z − -3)² = 36.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-4, -2, -3),\ \text{radius } 6 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 2 x + y^{2} - 4 y + z^{2} - 6 z - 22 = 0 \).
  1. Complete the square in x, y and z.
    Reviewed
  2. \[ x^{2} + 2 x + y^{2} - 4 y + z^{2} - 6 z - 22 = \left(x + 1\right)^{2} + \left(y - 2\right)^{2} + \left(z - 3\right)^{2} - 36 \]
    So (x − -1)² + (y − 2)² + (z − 3)² = 36.✓ Proved
Answer \( \text{center } (-1, 2, 3),\ \text{radius } 6 \)

✓ Nihil obstat Lines: 1 proved, 1 reviewed. The answer was also checked a second way, without looking at the solution. Reviewers found nothing wrong with the explanation. The full receipt · How we verify

More equations of spheres practice

Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + y^{2} + z^{2} - 8 z + 15 = 0 \).
Problem 9.612easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} + 6 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 28 = 0 \).
Problem 9.615easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (2, 5, 4) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 5 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.616easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (0, 0, 2) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 3 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.618easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (0, 4, 0) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 5 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.622easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-2, -1, 2) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.624easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (3, -4, 1) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.625easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 10 x + y^{2} + 6 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 49 = 0 \).
Problem 9.696easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 6 x + y^{2} - 2 y + z^{2} + 2 z + 10 = 0 \).
Problem 9.697easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-3, -1, -5) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.700easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 6 x + y^{2} + 6 y + z^{2} + 10 z + 18 = 0 \).
Problem 9.703easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-1, -1, -1) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 3 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.705easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 8 x + y^{2} + 4 y + z^{2} - 8 z + 11 = 0 \).
Problem 9.706easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 6 x + y^{2} + 4 y + z^{2} - 2 z + 5 = 0 \).
Problem 9.708easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 6 x + y^{2} + 4 y + z^{2} + 2 z + 5 = 0 \).
Problem 9.709easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 8 x + y^{2} - 8 y + z^{2} - 4 z + 11 = 0 \).
Problem 9.710easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-1, 0, 0) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.797easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 6 x + y^{2} + 10 y + z^{2} - 6 z + 34 = 0 \).
Problem 9.799easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (4, 0, 3) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.800easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 10 x + y^{2} - 8 y + z^{2} - 4 z + 44 = 0 \).
Problem 9.802easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} - 8 y + z^{2} + 4 z + 23 = 0 \).
Problem 9.803easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-1, -4, 2) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 1 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.804easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (1, -4, 5) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 3 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.805easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + y^{2} - 10 y + z^{2} - 10 z + 14 = 0 \).
Problem 9.840easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-3, 0, 5) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 4 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.841easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-5, -2, 0) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 2 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.842easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (5, 1, 3) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 3 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.844easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (4, -5, -1) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 5 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.845easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (2, -2, -5) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 4 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.846easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} + 4 y + z^{2} + 8 z + 15 = 0 \).
Problem 9.847easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + y^{2} + 6 y + z^{2} - 10 z + 25 = 0 \).
Problem 9.848easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (-4, 2, 1) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 1 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.911easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 2 x + y^{2} + 10 y + z^{2} - 8 z + 33 = 0 \).
Problem 9.912easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (0, 3, -4) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 4 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.913easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (1, -3, 5) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 4 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.914easy✓ Every equation proved
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} - 4 x + y^{2} - 4 y + z^{2} + 4 = 0 \).
Problem 9.915easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 4 x + y^{2} + 8 y + z^{2} + 6 z + 20 = 0 \).
Problem 9.916easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 2 x + y^{2} + 2 y + z^{2} + 6 z + 2 = 0 \).
Problem 9.917easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the center and radius of the sphere \( \displaystyle x^{2} + 6 x + y^{2} + z^{2} + 6 z + 9 = 0 \).
Problem 9.918easy✓ Nihil obstat
Find the equation of the sphere with center \( \displaystyle (4, 2, 0) \) and radius \( \displaystyle 1 \), in standard form.
Problem 9.919easy✓ Every equation proved