GMAT
MATH
FORMULAS
EMPOWER SUMMARY
EMPOWERgmat™
MAXIMUM IMPROVEMENT MADE EFFICIENT
Section Question Type Category NOTE: This packet is to be used in conjunction with the Modules in your
MATH Empower GMAT Course. This packet is NOT designed to be a complete
QUANT ALL
FORMULAS treatment of any subject herein.
MATH FORMULAS
The most powerful EMPOWER tactic for the Quantitative section of the GMAT
WHY Learn GMAT Math Formulas?
1. Including Geometry, more than half the questions in the Quant section involve a specific math formula (or more than
1), so knowing the formulas is a must to solving the problem.
2. Math formulas can be used to answer many different versions of the same question.
3. TRIAGE can become easier in some cases by using the formula to estimate the approximate answer to a question.
Average Formulas:
Average =
Interest Formulas:
Simple Interest: Principal x (1 + Rate x Time)
Compound Interest:
P = Principle investment, r = interest rate, t = time in years
Distance Formula:
Distance = Rate x Time
Combined Rate:
For objects traveling toward each other:
Distance Between = (Rates Added) x (Time to meet)
EMPOWERgmat™
Section Question Type Category NOTE: This packet is to be used in conjunction with the Modules in your
MATH Empower GMAT Course. This packet is NOT designed to be a complete
QUANT PS/DS
FORMULAS treatment of any subject herein.
MATH FORMULAS
Chase Down:
Distance Ahead = (Rates Subtracted) x (Time to chase down)
Example:
Work Formula:
Work = = time to finish the job working together
A and B represent the time it takes for each individual to finish the job alone
Example:
Overlapping Sets:
You’ll see one, possibly two overlapping sets questions. These ques- Use the EMPOWER Tic-Tac-Toe Board
tions involve any two traits. Some will share both, some neither, some
one and not the other. DOG DOG TOTAL
Example:
GROOMED 50 90 140
A pet kennel houses 300 pets over the course of a week. Of
the pets housed, 200 were dogs and 140 were groomed at GROOMED 150 10 160
the kennel. If 10 of the pets are neither dogs nor groomed,
then how many pets were dogs that were not groomed? TOTAL 200 100 300
(A) 50
(B) 90
(C) 140
(D) 150
(E) 160
EMPOWERgmat™
Section Question Type Category NOTE: This packet is to be used in conjunction with the Modules in your
MATH Empower GMAT Course. This packet is NOT designed to be a complete
QUANT PS/DS
FORMULAS treatment of any subject herein.
MATH FORMULAS
Permutations:
Note: Multiple events means multiply! This rule applies to ALL permutation, combination and probability questions in
some way.
No math formula required. Draw a picture, keep track of the results and multiply
Spot 1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH 5TH 6TH TOTAL
Options 6 5 4 3 2 1 720
Combinations:
Combination Formula
n = Number of items
k = Number of items to be selected
Example:
EMPOWERgmat™
Section Question Type Category NOTE: This packet is to be used in conjunction with the Modules in your
MATH Empower GMAT Course. This packet is NOT designed to be a complete
QUANT PS/DS
FORMULAS treatment of any subject herein.
MATH FORMULAS
Probability:
Probability =
“and” = Multiply
“or” = Add
Example:
Example:
EMPOWERgmat™
Section Question Type Category NOTE: This packet is to be used in conjunction with the Modules in your
MATH Empower GMAT Course. This packet is NOT designed to be a complete
QUANT PS/DS
FORMULAS treatment of any subject herein.