Basic Math Formulas

Find here a comprehensive list of basic math formulas commonly used

when doing basic math computation

1. Arithmetic Operations
1.1 Whole Numbers
Operation Symbol Formula

Addition + a + b = sum

Subtraction - a - b = difference

Multiplication × a × b = product

Division ÷ a ÷ b = quotient

1.2 Fractions
Operation Formula

a c ad +bc
Addition + =
b d bd

1 1 1× 3+2× 1 5
Example: 2 + 3 = 2 ×3
=
6

a c ad−bc
Subtraction − =
b d bd
 1 1 1 ×3−2× 1 1
Example: 2 − 3 = 2× 3
=
6

a c ac
Multiplication × =
b d bd

1 1 1× 1 1
Example: 2 × 3 = 2× 3 = 6

a c a d ad
Division ÷ = × =
b d b c bc

1 1 1 3 1 ×3 3
Example: 2 ÷ 3 = 2 × 1 = 2 ×1 = 2

Note: For addition and subtraction of fractions with different denominators,

find a common denominator first.

1.3 Converting Between Improper Fractions and Mixed

Numbers
Conversion Formula

a r
=q where q = a ÷ b (quotient), r =
Improper Fraction to Mixed Number b b
remainder

7 1
Example: 3 =2 3

b a × c+ b
Mixed Number to Improper Fraction a =
c c

1 2 ×3+1 7
Example: 2 3 = 3
=
3
1.4 Consumer Math
Calculation Formula

Discount Discount = list price × discount rate

Sale price Sale price = list price − discount

Discount rate Discount rate = discount ÷ list price

Sales tax Sales tax = price of item × tax rate

Interest Interest = principal × rate of interest × time

Tips Tips = cost of meals × tip rate

Commission Commission = cost of service × commission rate

Note: Rates (discount rate, tax rate, interest rate, tip rate, commission rate)
are typically expressed as decimals in these formulas. For example, 20%
would be 0.20.

2. Geometry
2D Shapes
Shape Area Perimeter

Rectangle A = l × w P = 2l + 2w

Square A = s² P = 4s

Circle A = πr² C = 2πr

 Triangle A = (1/2) × b × h P = a + b + c

Trapezoid A = (1/2)(b1 + b2)h P = a + b1 + b2 + c

3D Shapes
Shape Volume Surface Area

Cube V = s³ SA = 6s²

Rectangular Prism (Box) V = l × w × h SA = 2(lw + lh + wh)

Sphere V = (4/3)πr³ SA = 4πr²

Cylinder V = πr²h SA = 2πr² + 2πrh

Triangular Prism V = (1/2)bhl SA = bh + (s1 + s2 + s3)l

Note: For the triangular prism, b and h are the base and height of the
triangular face, l is the length of the prism, and s₁, s₂, s₃ are the sides of
the triangular face.

3. Percentages
Calculation Formula

Part
Percentage Percentage= ×100
Whole

Calculates what percent one number is of another

 Percentage × Whole
Finding the Part Part=
100

Calculates a specific percentage of a whole number

Part × 100
Finding the Whole Whole=
Percentage

Calculates the total when you know a part and its percentage

Additional Percentage Calculations

New Value−Original Value
 Percentage increase:Increase=Original Value ×100
Original Value−New Value
 Percentage decrease:Decrease= Original Value × 100

Note: When using these formulas, make sure to express the percentage as
a number (e.g., 25 for 25%) and not as a decimal.

4. Basic Statistics
 Let a1,a2,a3,......,an be a set of numbers, average = (a1 + a2 + a3,+......+
an)/n
 Median: Middle value when the data is arranged in order
 Mode: Most frequently occurring value in a dataset(there can be
more than 1!)

5. Simple Finance
Simple Interest:I = P × r × t

Where:

 I = Interest
 P = Principal
 r = rate (as a decimal)
 t = time (usually in years)