The SAT Math portion requires solid knowledge before the exam. We cover all the essential formulas to prepare you for the SAT math section.
To help students prepare for the SAT, we’ve compiled a list of common SAT math formulas to review.
The right track for understanding the math formulas on the SAT is knowing which ones aren’t provided in the SAT. You may recognize these formulas if you’ve taken all your high school math classes.
Below, we’ll cover a concrete list of the math formulas you’ll need to know for the SAT. We’ll break down which formulas are provided and which aren’t to help you study smarter, not harder!
The SAT provides a list of formulas that students can refer to during the test. Below is the list of SAT math formulas you’ll have access to.
All SAT math formulas come from high school Geometry, so you should know them before taking the SAT. Expect to use them on the exam. While you won't need to memorize them all, you'll want to practice their applications as you prepare for the SAT.
With these formulas in mind, we’ll break down how to use them to refresh your memory!
The area of a circle equals πr2, or the irrational constant of pi, multiplied by the squares of the circle's radius. The radius, or r, is the distance from the circle's edge to the center.
The circumference of a circle, 2πr, equals pi times twice the radius. The equation can also be written as d, since the diameter, or d, is twice the radius. Remember this if a question only gives you the diameter and asks for the circumference.
The standard equation for finding the area of squares and rectangles is l x w, or length times width.
Triangles have a different area equation, that of 1/2 b x h. A triangle is always half the area of a larger square. The measurements of b and h are the baseline’s length and the height, or the distance from the base to the opposite corner. Once multiplied with each other and ½, you have found the area.
The Pythagoras theorem is a standard formula for finding the unknown length of the side of a triangle when you know the length of the other two sides, as demonstrated by the SAT math formula c2=a2+b2. The lines a and b have to meet at a right angle for you to be able to find the length of c or the hypotenuse.
The formula of solid shapes, or the three-dimensional variants of other shapes, builds on the previous formulas by adding the extra line to fill in the third direction of space.
Dominique, Admissions counselor at Dartmouth College, offers the following advice:
"The SAT not only tests your ability to recall formulas but also challenges your reasoning skills. It’s about understanding how to conceptually tackle math problems, including word problems and complex scenarios, rather than just computation."
"While the SAT allows calculator use for some sections, it emphasizes the importance of understanding underlying mathematical concepts rather than just performing calculations."
"For the SAT, knowing the provided formula sheet and how to effectively use it during the test can be crucial. It includes basic but essential formulas that you might need, especially under timed conditions."
"Familiarity with the types of math questions and formulas included in the SAT can greatly alleviate test-day anxiety. Regular practice with these elements will help you navigate the test more effectively."
Below, you'll find a list of the standard SAT math formulas you’ll want to memorize before you take the exam. The SAT formula sheet won't include these formulas, so you must get familiar with these equations and their applications.
If you know the formulas, math practice gets that much easier. And remember, the SAT expects students to know all of these formulas without having to provide them. These formulas cover topics from graphing to Geometry and Trigonometry. Your exam practice should cover these from your high school math classes if you aren’t familiar with them.
The SAT includes three main graphing equations that appear on most related SAT problems: linear, distance, and slope.
Expect to see a sizable amount of Algebra on the SAT math test. The following formulas will help you the most with the Heart of Algebra questions.
The SAT will require you to memorize these other circle equations outside of simple area and circumference.
The SAT will require that you know a bit of Trigonometry. You will only need to know how the basic three trigonometric ratios work. The three sides of a right triangle used in these ratios are the hypotenuse or the longest side, the opposite, the perpendicular or tall side, and the base or the bottom side.
A great pneumonic device that makes it easy to remember these functions is SOHCAHTOA, which spells out what you need to do as an acronym.
There are two formulas covering interest used on the SAT. You can expect to see both.
You'll remember the Probability SAT math formula from the end of high school Geometry. The equation used in probability problems is Outcome=desired outcomes/total possible outcomes. When reading these problems, you can identify the desired outcome likely as the given number or percentage and the total by adding every outcome together if not stated.
Want a helpful resource to up your SAT game? Download our SAT math cheat sheet for everything you need to know before the exam.
Having the key SAT math formulas at your fingertips can be a huge help on test day. We've compiled all 40 formulas from the table into a convenient, printable PDF sheet you can download and keep handy during your studies.
Download the Full SAT Math Formula Sheet PDF
If you’re struggling to grasp important SAT concepts, consider meeting with an SAT tutor to seriously change the way you think about the SAT.
Here’s what Luis who scored 1510 on the SAT after an initial score of 1290 had to say.
"A big thank you to Zina for helping me improve my SAT score! She had great tips to help me get better at time management. Practice math questions used to send me in circles, but the methods she went over helped me solve problems quicker. The assignments she gave me were really helpful."
Below are some common questions about the math formulas you need for the SAT.
The provided SAT math formulas cover Geometry and some Trigonometry. You’ll find them on the instruction sheet to reference during the exam. See the above for the list of the included formulas. However, you should know other formulas, from graphing to algebra and statistics. You can find a complete list of the unprovided formulas above.
Yes, the SAT math test provides a list of formulas as part of the opening instructions for each portion. They cover most of the common geometric shape formulas. However, you will want to know more formulas beyond those outlined in our SAT math cheat sheet.
No, the SAT is not mostly Algebra. The SAT math exam is broken down into the following topics: Algebra, Problem-Solving and Data Analysis, Advanced Math, and additional miscellaneous Math topics. Algebra is a large and focused topic, but Data Analysis and Advanced Math take up equal portions of the exam.
The best way to memorize anything is through consistent practice! While studying for the SAT, work on problems that use the necessary math formulas. If you’re struggling to remember all of them, try using flash cards or any route memorization methods to ensure you know all the math formulas you need for the SAT.
Yes, you can do SAT math without a calculator. The SAT math exam splits questions between two sections, one with and one without a calculator. There are questions on the SAT calculator portions that you may find easier without. However, be aware of the SAT calculator policy to know if your calculator meets the exam guidelines.
The best tip for studying for the SAT math test is to break down the material in your studying by subject. You then can determine what formulas you need to memorize, which will help you if you plan to study independently.
You should also practice often by working on practice SAT quizzes so that you can hone your math skills.
You use the SAT grid-in by writing in the answer and bubbling for each space. The grid-ins have four total spaces for each digit, fraction line, and decimal point. When using formulas involving circles on grid-in questions, use 3.14 for pi. Read the College Board SAT grid-in instructions and policy for more information.
The PSAT provides the same formula sheet at the start as the SAT. However, the PSAT is considered easier, so you may not need to know all the extra formulas like you do on the SAT. You’ll want to take the PSAT as a practice test to find what you need to study for the SAT and its math exam.
No, the SAT does not have any true calculus on the exam. You may need skills that you would use in Calculus, like multiplying binomial products. However, you may have learned everything you need if you’ve taken Pre-calculus, which is as much as the SAT math exam expects students to take.
When studying for the math exam, SAT math formulas will prove invaluable the more you learn and apply them. While the exam does provide several geometric formulas, you will need to know many more to do well on the exam.
The exam covers math topics from Algebra to Trigonometry, so prepare for them with these formulas.
Good luck with the SAT!
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