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?

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.