Having trouble remembering your GRE math formulas on the fly? This free, downloadable GRE math formulas cheat sheet should help you! We’ll show you how to incorporate this GRE resource into your Quant prep below.
Although memorizing a GRE math formula (or twelve) isn’t the only way to study for GRE Quant, knowing certain frequently-tested formulas by heart will help you improve your speed on test day. Once you learn these formulas, be sure to practice using them! A little timed practice can go a long way.
Download our printable GRE math formulas cheat sheet PDF and read on to learn a little bit more about what to expect from the math section of the GRE.
Memorizing this GRE math formula cheat sheet is just the first step to mastering GRE math. Knowing which math formulas to use, then using them quickly and correctly, can really help you do well on GRE quant.
The GRE Quantitative Reasoning section tests concepts that you likely learned during sophomore and/or junior year of high school. These concepts DO NOT INCLUDE higher level math like trigonometry, calculus, or geometry proofs. They DO INCLUDE things you’ve probably long forgotten like properties of shapes, integer properties, exponent rules, and word problems.
The thing that takes these concepts to the GRE level is their complexity. Figuring out what each question is asking you to accomplish can be really tricky, whereas the math involved in solving them tends to be fairly straightforward. And you won’t get partial credit for showing your work, so picking the correct answer choice is very important! So study up the GRE math formulas cheat sheet and then practice using the formulas so you will know when they pertain to a question.
Here are the most important GRE math formulas to know and practice before exam day!
Squares \(\text{Perimeter}=\text{4}\times\text{s}\), where s = side \(\text{Area} = s^2\)
Rectangles \(\text{Area} = \text{l}\text{w}\), where l = length and w = width \(Perimeter = 2l+2w\)
Trapezoids \(\text{Area}=\frac{Base1+Base2}{2}\times\text{height}\)
Polygons \(\text{Total degrees}=180(\text{n}-2)\), where n = # of sides Average degrees per side or degree measure of congruent polygon=\( 180(n-2)/n\)
Circles \(\text{Area}=π\text{r}^2\) \(\text{Circumference}={2}{π}\text{r}\) \(\text{Arc Length}=\frac{x}{360}\times{2}{π}\text{r}\) \(\text{Area of sector}=\frac{x}{360}\times{π}{r^2}\) Triangles \(\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}\times\text{bh} \) \(\text{Pythagorean Theorem}: a^2={b^2+c^2}\)
\(nCr={n!}/{r!(n-r)!}\)
\(nPr={n!}/{(n-r)!}\)
n is the total number, r is the number you are choosing Read more about Combinations and Permutations .
\(\text{Average}=\frac{\;\text{sum of n numbers}}{n}\) \(\text{Average speed}=\frac{\;\text{total distance}}{\text{total time}} \)
\(\text{Probability of event}=\frac{\;\text{number of ways that fit the requirement}}{\text{number of total ways}}\)
Percent Increase \(\frac{\text{new amount-original amount}}{\text{original amount}}\times{100}\)
Percent Decrease \(\frac{\text{original amount-new amount}}{\text{original amount}}\times{100}\)
Simple Interest \(V= \text{P}({1+\frac{rt}{100})}\), where P is principal, r is rate, and t is time
Compound Interest \(V= \text{P} (1+\frac{r}{100n}) ^{nt}\), where n is the number of times compounded per year
\(D=rt\), \(Distance=Rate*Time\)
The Distance Formula \(\sqrt{({x_2}-{x_1})^2+({y_2}-{y_1})^2}\)
1. Point A in the xy-coordinate system is shown below. Given two other points B (4a, b) and C (2a, 5b), what is the area of triangle ABC in terms of a and b? / / /
Answer is E. Click here to view the video explanation .
2. If the circle with center O has area 9π, what is the area of equilateral triangle ABC?
Answer is C. Click here to view the video explanation.
3. The average (arithmetic mean) of 4 different integers is 75. If the largest integer is 90, what is the least possible value of the smallest integer?
4. Ten students wrote a test, and the distribution of scores is shown on the frequency table. If the average (arithmetic mean) score is 62, what is the value of x?
Answer is B. Click here to view the video explanation .
5. In 2004, Cindy had $4000 in a mutual fund account. In 2005, the amount in the same account was $5000. If the percent increase from 2004 to 2005 was the same as the percent increase from 2005 to 2006, how much did Cindy have in this account in 2006?
$5800 $6000 $6250 $7500 $9000
Answer is C. Click here to view the video explanation .
6. Tuk weighs 60 percent more than Kim, Lee weighs 50 percent less than Tuk, and Pat weighs 25 percent more than Lee. If Pat weighs 126 pounds, what is Kim’s weight?
Answer is 126. Click here to view the video explanation .
7. In the xy-coordinate system, line k has y-intercept 12 and an x-intercept greater than zero. If the area of the triangular region enclosed by line k and the two axes is 30, what is the slope of line k?
Answer is A. Click here to view the video explanation .
8. In the xy-coordinate system, line k has slope and passes through point (0, 5). Which of the following points cannot lie on line k?
(-10,0) (8,9) (3, 6.5) (-2, 2) (-8, 1)
Answer is D. Click here to view the video explanation .
Like we mentioned before, simply memorizing these GRE math formulas is not enough. You’ll also need to practice so that you know when it’s appropriate to use each formula.
Magoosh GRE prep offers lesson videos and practice questions to help you learn to put these formulas to use. And our Android/iPhone Prep App allows you to access that content on the go.
Lastly, here is a full-length, free practice test from Magoosh that includes a detailed score report with a topic-by-topic breakdown of your performance. You can choose to do just the Quant section or a full length exam. Happy studying!
Chris graduated from UCLA with a BA in Psychology and has 20 years of experience in the test prep industry. He’s been quoted as a subject expert in many publications, including US News , GMAC , and Business Because .