Question

As a cell grows, what happens to its surface area to volume ratio? (hint: think of a balloon being blown up). how does this ratio change with respect to cell division?

Answer 1

The surface area to volume ratio of the cell decreases.
This decrease is due to the fact that the volume of the cell increases at a greater rate than the surface surrounding the cell, the cell membrane, increases. This change is also visible when we are blowing up a balloon. 

When considering the cell division, the ratio remains roughly the same. It is advantageous for the cell to preserve its surface area to volume ratio, since a higher ratio means that substances are able to diffuse into and out of the cell at a fairly higher rate.