SAT Math Formulas To Know for Test Day

The SAT provides a reference sheet of math formulas in the SAT math section – but it’s short. You’ll use more formulas on test day than you see on the sheet. The formula list below boils down the formulas you will most likely use on the SAT.

Below, you’ll find a list of SAT math formulas to know from every content area in the Math section: Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Math, and Additional Topics in Math.

How to Use These SAT Math Formulas

Maybe you want to print this out for reference, maybe you want to compare these formulas with the very few that are given to you on the SAT, or maybe you want to highlight the formulas you refer to while completing practice problems – then you will know what formulas to study before the test!

Before you get started, a few tips for studying for math:

Most importantly, work to “own the material.” You will never be able to see every question prior to taking the test, so you need to understand the concepts. That way you can apply your knowledge to novel problems.
Second, familiarize yourself with the wording of the questions. Practice with questions that are similar to how they will be worded on the actual test. Sometimes standardized test structure is not something with which you are very familiar.
Then take a timed test. The SAT has free downloadable released tests [LINK]. Make sure you can work under that time crunch. And when you have finished a timed test, find your errors and go back to “owning the material.” Analyze your errors and wrap your brain around the concepts.

Finally, practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect!

PS: Download these SAT formulas in PDF format at the end of this post!

The SAT Formula Sheet

These are the formulas given to you in the Math section of your SAT test booklet:

The SAT formula sheet provides basic formulas for circles, area, triangles, and volume. But there many additional formulas it will be helpful to know on test day so you can fly through the math section with confidence.

The Best Calculator to Use on the SAT

Problem Solving and Data Analysis

Percents

OR change words to an algebraic equation and solve

Example: 40% of what is 20?

Percent increase or decrease:

Mean (the average)

Median

Middle value when items are arranged from least to greatest

Range

The difference between the max value and min value

Mode

Value that occurs the most in a set

Standard Deviation

Shows how spread data points are.

Low standard deviation: data points are closer to the mean

High standard deviation: data is spread over a wider range

Probability of an Event

Joint or conditional probability

Mutually exclusive probability

Fundamental Counting Principle

Pick 1 from each group, multiply the number of options in each group

Permutation

A combination of events occurring when order matters and the items cannot be repeated

Combination

A combination of events occurring when the order does NOT matter

Arithmetic Sequences

Each term (t) is the previous term plus a common difference (d)

to find the nth term:

Geometric Sequences

Each term (t) is the previous term times a common ratio (r)

to find the nth term:

Key Math Section Strategy for the ACT or SAT

Heart of Algebra and Passport to Advanced Math

Domain

Set of possible values of x

Range

Set of possible values of y

Lines

Slope of the line:

Parallel lines have the same slope and Perpendicular lines have slopes that are negative reciprocals

Slope-intercept form:

Point-slope form:

Midpoint Formula

Distance Formula

Direct Variation

y=kx where k is the constant of variation

Indirect Variation

where k is the constant of variation

Standard Form of a Quadratic

To find the solutions: set y equal to 0, and solve for x by factoring or use the Quadratic Formula

To find the vertex:

plug value back into the equation to find y-coordinate

Vertex Form of a Quadratic

The vertex is (h, k).

Factored Form of a Quadratic

x-intercepts/solutions/zeros are x=p & x=q

Exponential Functions

Shows growth if b>1or decay if 0<b<1

Growth/Decay when r is a percent:

Interest compounded n times for t years:

Exponents & Roots

SAT Math Strategies

Additional Topics in Math

Complex Numbers

Use the conjugate to eliminate the imaginary:

Triangles

Degrees sum to 180°

Sides: No side can be greater than the sum or less than the difference in length of the other two. Side lengths are in the same ratio as opposite angle measures

Special Right Triangles