Computed Tomography Technologist Practice Exam 2026 – All-in-One Guide for Exam Success!

The formula for beam width in a CT scan is accurately represented by the product of the number of slices and the slice thickness. In computed tomography, beam width refers to the extent of the x-ray beam that is utilized during the scan and is directly influenced by how many slices are being acquired and how thick each of those slices is.

When a CT scan is performed, multiple slices are generated in a single rotation of the x-ray tube. The beam width is crucial as it determines how much of the patient's body is being imaged in one pass. The greater the number of slices and the thicker each slice, the wider the effective beam width will be. This relationship helps in understanding how scanning parameters interact and impact image quality and patient dose.

The other options do not accurately depict this relationship. The inclusion of terms such as total acquisition time or pitch alongside slice thickness does not correctly symbolize how beam width is formulated in the context of CT imaging. Therefore, using the number of slices multiplied by the slice thickness best captures the correct method to determine beam width.