SAT/GED MATH FORMULAS
Complete Reference Guide
ALGEBRA FORMULAS
Linear Equations: ax + b = c → x = (c - b)/a
Quadratic Formula: x = [-b ± √(b² - 4ac)] / 2a
Slope: m = (y■ - y■) / (x■ - x■)
Slope-Intercept: y = mx + b
Distance: d = √[(x■ - x■)² + (y■ - y■)²]
EXPONENT RULES
a■ × a■ = a■■■ (Add exponents)
a■ / a■ = a■■■ (Subtract exponents)
(a■)■ = a■■ (Multiply exponents)
(ab)■ = a■b■ (Distribute)
a■■ = 1/a■ (Negative exponent)
a■ = 1 (Zero power)
RADICAL RULES
√(ab) = √a × √b (Product rule)
√a = a^(1/2) (Connection to exponents)
■a = a^(1/3) (Cube root)
POLYNOMIAL FORMULAS
Perfect Square: (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²
Perfect Square: (a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b²
Difference of Squares: a² - b² = (a + b)(a - b)
GEOMETRY FORMULAS
Triangle Area: A = ½ × base × height
Triangle Perimeter: P = a + b + c
Rectangle Area: A = length × width
Rectangle Perimeter: P = 2l + 2w
Circle Circumference: C = 2πr = πd
Circle Area: A = πr²
Arc Length: L = (θ/360°) × 2πr
Sector Area: A = (θ/360°) × πr²
VOLUME FORMULAS
Rectangular Prism: V = l × w × h
Cylinder: V = πr²h
Sphere: V = (4/3)πr³
Cone: V = (1/3)πr²h
PYTHAGOREAN THEOREM & TRIGONOMETRY
Pythagorean Theorem: a² + b² = c²
sin(θ) = Opposite / Hypotenuse
cos(θ) = Adjacent / Hypotenuse
tan(θ) = Opposite / Adjacent
Remember: SOH-CAH-TOA
SPECIAL RIGHT TRIANGLES
45-45-90: Sides are x, x, x√2
30-60-90: Sides are x, x√3, 2x
COMMON TRIGONOMETRIC VALUES
sin(30°) = 1/2, cos(30°) = √3/2, tan(30°) = 1/√3
sin(45°) = √2/2, cos(45°) = √2/2, tan(45°) = 1
sin(60°) = √3/2, cos(60°) = 1/2, tan(60°) = √3
STATISTICS & PROBABILITY
Mean: Sum of values / Number of values
Median: Middle value (arrange in order)
Mode: Most frequently occurring value
Range: Maximum - Minimum
Probability: Favorable outcomes / Total outcomes
P(A AND B) = P(A) × P(B)
P(A OR B) = P(A) + P(B)
WORD PROBLEM FORMULAS
Distance: Distance = Speed × Time
Work: Work = Rate × Time
Percent: Percent = (Part / Whole) × 100%
Percent Change: [(New - Old) / Old] × 100%
FUNCTION FORMULAS
Linear: f(x) = mx + b
Quadratic: f(x) = ax² + bx + c
Composite: f(g(x)) = plug g(x) into f
PERFECT SQUARES (MEMORIZE!)
1, 4, 9, 16, 25, 36, 49, 64, 81, 100, 121, 144, 169, 196, 225
PYTHAGOREAN TRIPLES (MEMORIZE!)
3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17, 6-8-10, 9-12-15
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