[tex]\bf \textit{volume of a sphere}\\\\ V=\cfrac{4\pi r^3}{3}~~ \begin{cases} r=radius\\ \cline{1-1} V=972\pi \end{cases}\implies 972\pi =\cfrac{4\pi r^3}{3}\implies 2916\pi =4\pi r^3 \\\\\\ \cfrac{2916}{4\pi }=r^3\implies 729=r^3\implies \sqrt[3]{729}=r\implies 9=r \\\\[-0.35em] ~\dotfill\\\\ \textit{surface area of a sphere}\\\\ SA=4\pi r^2\qquad \qquad \implies SA=4\pi (9)^2\implies \boxed{SA=324\pi }[/tex]
