ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

NUMBER CLASSIFICATION

Rational Numbers Number Class Definition Examples

The number 1 or any number obtained

Integers Natural numbers
by adding 1 to it one or more times.
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...

Whole numbers Whole numbers do not include

Whole Numbers fractions or decimal parts and is a 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...
Natural numbers positive integer or zero.

..., −5, −4, −3, −2,

Integers Any whole number or its opposite. −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ...

Rational numbers A number can that be expressed as a • 2/10.6

• 3/10
ratio or fraction. • 2.957

A number that has no imaginary part. • −92

Real Numbers All real numbers can be located on a • 5/9
number line. • √2
Each number system is a subset another.
a + bi where a and b are real numbers • -1 + 2i
Complex Numbers
A rational number is also a real number, a and i (imaginary number) is a formal • 7 - 9i
real number is also a complex number, etc. square root of −1 (i= √-1, i2 = -1) • -6i

NUMBER LINES

11 23 |2| |2|
-1 2 2 4

-1 0 2 3 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3

Standard Number Line Absolute Value

Number lines may have a point for zero and may show Absolute value is the distance away from zero a number
negative numbers on the left side of the line. is on the number line. It is always positive and is written
|x|.
Any positive numbers are placed on the right side of the
line. For example, the absolute value of 2 is written as |2|.

MATHEMATICAL SYMBOLS

Phrase Symbol
equal, is, was, will be, has, costs, gets to, is the same as, becomes = Lesser Known Symbols

The Golden Ratio: φ

times, of, multiplied by, product of, twice, doubles, halves, triples ×
Inifinity: ∞
Euler’s Number: e
divided by, per, ratio of/to, out of ÷
Universal Quantifier: ∀
Membership Sign: ∈
plus, added to, sum, combined, and, more than, totals of +

subtracted from, less than, decreased by, minus, difference between −

what, how much, original value, how many, a number, a variable 𝑥, n, etc.
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

PERCENTS, FRACTIONS, AND DECIMALS

Percent Increase Percent Decrease Percent to Fraction/Decimal

new value – original value original value – new value Percentage
× 100 × 100
original value original value 100

Fraction to Decimal Fraction to Percent Decimal to Fraction Decimal to Percent

numerator numerator decimal 10
n n is the number
decimal × 100
× 100 × of places behind
denominator denominator 1 10
n
the decimal point

RATIOS AND PROPORTIONS

Ratios of Two Items
Items Ratio Fraction Written Simplified Ratio
6 oranges, 8 apples 6:8 6/8 6 oranges to 8 apples 3:4

8 trains, 14 cars 8:14 8/14 8 trains to 14 cars 4:7

4 feet, 3 feet 4:3 4/3 4 feet to 3 feet 4:3

Calculating
Ratios
Proportions
Part to part Part to whole
6 12
2:1 1:2 2:3 1:3 =
2 ?
2/1 1/2 2/3 1/3

6
= 12
2 to 1 1 to 2 2 to 3 1 to 3

2 x
Proportions 24 6x
÷6
3:4 = 6:8 4=x
3:4 :: 6:8
6 12
3 is to 4 as 6 is to 8 =
2 4
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

FACTORS

Greatest common factor (GCF) Factor Tree

What is a factor? 7: 1, 7
The greatest common factor of
28
A whole number is a factor of another two or more whole numbers is the
28: 1, 2, 7, 14
2 14
whole number if it divides it evenly. largest number that is a factor of
them all.
GCF: 7 2 7

MULTIPLES

What is a multiple? Least Common Multiple (LCM)

3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, 24
The least common multiple of two
A whole number is a multiple if it is or more whole numbers is the 7: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 56
the result of multiplying another whole smallest number that is a multiple
number by an integer. of them all. LCM: 21

Multiples of 3 Multiples of 7
× 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 multiplication × 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 multiplication
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 3×1=3 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 7×1=7
2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 3×2=6 2 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 7 × 2 = 14
3 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 3×3=9 3 3 6 9 12 15 18 21 24 7 × 3 = 21
4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 3 × 4 = 12 4 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 7 × 4 = 28
5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 3 × 5 = 15 5 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 7 × 5 = 35
6 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 3 × 6 = 18 6 6 12 18 24 30 36 42 48 7 × 6 = 42
7 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 3 × 7 = 21 7 7 14 21 28 35 42 49 56 7 × 7 = 49
8 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 3 × 8 = 24 8 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 7 × 8 = 56

PERMUTATION AND COMBINATION

Permutation Combination
An arrangement of a specific number No restrictions regarding the
of a set of objects in a specific order. order of the elements.

n = the number of objects available

P
n r
= n!
(n−r)! C
n r
= n!
r!(n−r)! C= n r
P
r = the number of objects selected n r r!
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

The coefficient must be greater

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION than or equal to 1 and less than 10

Scientific Notation Moving The Decimal New Number

1 × 100 1 1

1.3 × 101 1.3 13

1.34 × 102 1.34 134

7.38 × 109 7. 3 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7,380,000,000

1 × 10−1 01. 0.1

1 × 10−2 001. 0.01

5.5 × 10−7 00000005.5 0.00000055

RULES OF EXPONENTS

Property Description

a1 = a Any number to the power of 1 is equal to itself

1n = 1 The number 1 raised to any power is equal to 1

a0 = 1 Any number raised to the power of 0 is equal to 1

an × am = an+m Add exponents to multiply powers of the same base number

an ÷ am = an-m Subtract exponents to divide powers of the same base number

(an)m = an×m When a power is raised to a power, the exponents are multiplied

(a × b)n = an × bn Multiplication operations inside parentheses can be raised to a power

(a ÷ b)n = an ÷ bn Division operations inside parentheses can be raised to a power

a−n = 1/an A negative exponent is the same as the reciprocal of a positive exponent
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET
SLOPE AND LINEAR EQUATIONS

(dependent y Slope
variable) affects
y2 - y1 rise
=
undefined slope
x2 - x1 run

Slope Intercept Form Distance Formula

pe
slo
ive
y = mx + b d = (x2−x1)2 + (y2−y1)2
sit ne (independent
po ga
x
m = slope
tiv variable) b = y-intercept
es
lop
e
Point-Slope Form Midpoint Formula
slope of zero y - y1 = m(x - x1) x1 + x2 y1 + y2
,
m = slope 2 2
(x1 , y1 ) = point coordinates

y y
4 4
3 3
Undefined Slope 2 Positive Slope 2
1 1
-3 - 2 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 x 2-0 2 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
m= = m= = x
3-3 0 0 - (-2) 2
-1 -1
m = undefined -2 m=1 -2
-3 -3
-4 -4

y y
4 4
3 3
Negative Slope 2 Slope of Zero 2
1 1
-2 - 3 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 -2 - (-2) 0 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
m= = x m= = x
3 - (-2) 5 -3 - 2 -5
-1 -1
m = -1 -2 m=0 -2
-3 -3
-4 -4
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET
GRAPHING LINEAR EQUATIONS
Greater Than Greater Than or Equal To Less Than Less Than or Equal To

> ≥ ≤
>
y y y y

x x x

y > 2x + 2 y ≥ 2x + 2 y < 2x + 2 y ≤ 2x + 2

SYSTEMS OF EQUATIONS
One Solution No Solutions Infinitely Many Solutions

y = -x + 1 y = -x + 1 y = -x + 1
y=x+5 y = -x - 2 3y = -3x + 3
y y y
4 4 4
3 3 3
2 2 2
1 1 1
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 x -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 x -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 x
-1 -1 -1
-2 -2 -2
-3 -3 -3
-4 -4 -4

Consistent Independent Inconsistent Consistent Dependent

QUADRATIC EQUATION

An equation where the variable x Quadratic Formula: Standard Form Quadratic Formula: Equivalent Form

x=
-b ± √ b2 - 4ac
represents an unknown number, and

2a
a, b, and c represent known numbers, ax2 + bx + c = 0
where a ≠ 0
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET
FUNCTIONS

f(x) = b, where the slope is zero

Function Formula

f(x) = x, where the output value and input

Constant Functions
A function is a relation between a set of
inputs and a set of outputs where each
input is related to exactly one output.
The Identity Function value are the same and the line passes
through the origin
f(x) = mx + b
f(x) = x2, where the vertex is at the origin
Linear Functions

f(x) = ax2 + bx + c
The Squaring Function

f(x) = anxn + an−1xn−1 + ⋯ + a2x2 + a1x + a0

Quadratic Functions

f(x) = P(x)/Q(x), where p(x) and q(x) are

Polynomial Functions

Rational Functions
polynomials and q(x) ≠ 0
f(x) = √x
Not a function Function
The Square Root Function

Composites f(x) = 5x + 4

(f ∘ g)(x) = f(g(x))
The composite of two functions f and f(g(x)) = f(x - 2)
g, simply means that the output of = 5(x - 2) + 4
and
(g ∘ f)(x) = g(f(x))
the second function is used as the = 5x - 10 + 4
input of the first.
= 5x - 6
It's important to note that the process is not always commutative g(x) = x - 2
like addition or multiplication expressions. It can be commutative,
g(f(x)) = g(5x + 4)
but most often this is not the case.
= (5x + 4) - 2
= 5x - 2

Transformations of Functions
Function Notation Transformation Types Coordinate Point Change
f(x) + d vertical translation up d units (x,y) → (x,y + d)
f(x) - d vertical translation down d units (x,y) → (x,y - d)
f(x + c) horizontal translation left c units (x,y) → (x - c,y)
f(x - c) horizontal translation right c units (x,y) → (x + c,y)
-f(x) reflect over x-axis (x,y) → (x,-y)
f(-x) reflect over y-axis (x,y) → (-x,y)
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET
Vector Matrix
MATRICES
Matrix Definition Scalar
A matrix (plural: matrices) is a A number A list of numbers An array of numbers

0 1 0 -1
rectangular array of numbers or

3 2 3 4
11
variables, often called elements,
1 0 -1
-2 0 -2 5
which are arranged in columns

11
and rows
10 11 8

Matrix Addition or Subtraction

Scalar Multiplication
a b g h a±g b±h
n c d ± i j = c±i d±j a b c na nb nc
n =
e f k l e±k f±l d e f nd ne nf

Matrix Multiplication

g h
a b c ag + bi + ck ah + bj + cl
i j =
d e f dg + ei + fk dh + ej + fl
k l

ADDITIONAL FORMULAS
Formula Name Formula

I = Prt
Simple Interest
(I = interest, P = principal, r = rate, t = time)

d = rt
Distance Formula
(d = distance, r = rate, t = time)

Total Cost total cost = (units) × (unit price)

an=a1 × rn–1

an = the value of the nth term

Geometric Sequence a1 = the value of the initial term
r = the common ratio
n = the number of terms
an=a1 +(n-1)d
an = the value of the nth term
Arithmetic Sequence a1 = the value of the initial term
n = the number of terms
d = the common difference between terms
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

AREA

Square Rectangle Parallelogram Triangle Trapezoid

b1
l w h h h

l b b b2
2 1 1
A=l A = lw A = bh A= bh A= 2
(b1 + b2)h
2

Rhombus Circle Ellipse

d1 Perimeter
b The sum of all sides of a shape
r a
d2 Circumference
The distance around a circle (C=2πr)

A = 12 (d1 × d2) A = πr2 A = πab

VOLUME AND SURFACE AREA

Cube Rectangular Prism Triangular Prism Cylinder Cone

r
h
s h h h
w r
l
l b
2
V= b h l V = πr h
× × 2
V = s3 V=l×w×h V = πr h
2 3

SA = 6s2 SA = 2(lw+lh+hw) SA = lsa + 2 (area of base) SA = 2πr(r + h) SA = πrs + πr2

Rectangular Pyramid Sphere

r
h d LSA (Lateral Surface Area)
The sides of a three-dimensional shape, excluding any
w bases
l
Base
V= l w h V = 4 πr
× × 3
The face of a shape perpendicular to the direction
3 3 height is measured

SA = lsa + area of base SA = 4πr2

 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET
ANGLES An angle is formed when two lines or
A
line segments meet at a point
a
A vertex is the point at which two

ng
B

le
segments or rays meet to form an angle.
vertex

Complementary Supplementary Adjacent Vertical

Two angles whose sum Two angles whose sum Two angles that have Angles that are not adjacent
is exactly 90° is exactly 180° the same vertex and due to sharing a vertex and
share a side have no common side

TRIANGLES The sum of the interior angles of any triangle

is always 180 degrees.
b
b
b
x z x
z z x

a c a c a c
y y y
Scalene Triangle Isosceles Triangle Equilateral Triangle
No equal side lengths or Two equal side lengths and Three equal side lengths
angles angles and angles

Special Right Triangles Pythagorean Theorem

45° 30° c2 = a2 + b2
x√2
x x√3 2x a = √ c2 - b2

60° b = √ c2 - a2
45°

45-45-90 30-60-90
x x
c = √ a2 + b2
c e

po te
n us
leg a
3 5 5 13 hy

90°
leg

3-4-5 5-12-13
4 12
b
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

TRIGONOMETRY

SOHCAHTOA CHOSHACAO

opposite hypotenuse
SOH sin(θ)= CHO csc(θ)=
hypotenuse opposite

adjacent hypotenuse
CAH cos(θ) = SHA sec(θ) =
hypotenuse adjacent

opposite adjacent
TOA tan(θ) = CAO cot(θ) =
adjacent opposite

STATISTICS

Mean Range (Spread) Median

Mode
sum of all items Distance between Middle item when ordered
Most/common item
total number of items smallest and largest item from least to greatest

Range
Range Mode Range
Median
Mode Mean Mode
Median Median

Mean Mean

Left Skew Normal Distribution Right Skew

(Negative) (Positive)

Greater spread equals greater deviation.

Margin of Error
sample statistic ± margin of error with
confidence level of XX%

Set A Set B
 ACT® MATH CRAM SHEET

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