Math Cheatsheet
100%
These formulas are not provided on the actual SAT. This sheet is for you to study and memorize before test day.
⠿ Fractions & Percents

Basics

  • Fraction: $\text{fraction} = \frac{\text{part}}{\text{whole}}$
  • Percent: $\text{percent} = \frac{\text{part}}{100}$
  • Percent change: $\frac{|\text{old}-\text{new}|}{\text{old}} \times 100\%$

Percent Operations

  • Increase by $p\%$: $\times\left(1+\frac{p}{100}\right)$
  • Decrease by $p\%$: $\times\left(1-\frac{p}{100}\right)$
  • Multiplier: $1 \pm \frac{p}{100}$

Interest Formulas

  • Simple: $A = P(1+rt)$
  • Compound annually: $A = P(1+r)^t$
  • Compound $n$ times/year: $A = P\left(1+\frac{r}{n}\right)^{nt}$

Exponential Model

  • $f(t) = A \cdot b^{t/p}$
    $A$ = starting amount, $b$ = factor per period, $p$ = period length
⠿ Unit Conversions

Linear Units

  • $10\text{ft} \times \frac{12\text{in}}{1\text{ft}} = 120\text{in}$

Square Units

  • $10\text{ft}^2 \times \left(\frac{12\text{in}}{1\text{ft}}\right)^2 = 1440\text{in}^2$
    Square the conversion factor for area!

Volume Units

  • $10\text{ft}^3 \times \left(\frac{12\text{in}}{1\text{ft}}\right)^3 = 17280\text{in}^3$
    Cube the conversion factor for volume!
⠿ Parabolas

Standard Form

  • $f(x) = ax^2 + bx + c$
  • Vertex: $\left(-\frac{b}{2a},\ f\left(-\frac{b}{2a}\right)\right)$
  • Vertex $x$: $x = -\frac{b}{2a}$
  • $y$-intercept: $c$
  • $x$-intercepts: $\frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}$

Other Forms

  • Factored: $f(x) = a(x-m)(x-n)$
  • Vertex form: $f(x) = a(x-h)^2 + k$

Vieta's Formulas

  • Sum of roots: $-\frac{b}{a}$
  • Product of roots: $\frac{c}{a}$

Discriminant

  • $D = b^2 - 4ac$
  • Positive: 2 real solutions
  • Zero: 1 real solution
  • Negative: 0 real solutions
⠿ Graphing Lines

Slope Formula

  • $m = \frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$
  • Horizontal line: $m = 0$
  • Vertical line: undefined

Line Forms

  • Standard: $Ax + By = C$
  • $x$-intercept: $\frac{C}{A}$
  • Slope-intercept: $y = mx + b$
  • Point-slope: $y - y_1 = m(x - x_1)$

Distance & Midpoint

  • $d = \sqrt{(x_2-x_1)^2 + (y_2-y_1)^2}$
  • $M = \left(\frac{x_1+x_2}{2}, \frac{y_1+y_2}{2}\right)$
    Desmos: midpoint() and distance()

Parallel & Perpendicular

  • Parallel: equal slopes
  • Perpendicular slopes: $m_1 m_2 = -1$
⠿ Exponents & Roots

Exponent Rules

  • $a^b \cdot a^c = a^{b+c}$
  • $\frac{a^b}{a^c} = a^{b-c}$
  • $(a^b)^c = a^{bc}$
  • $a^{-b} = \frac{1}{a^b}$

Fractional Exponents

  • $a^{b/c} = \sqrt[c]{a^b} = \left(\sqrt[c]{a}\right)^b$
⠿ Projectile Motion

For $h(t) = at^2 + bt + c$:

  • Initial height: $h(0) = c$
  • Time at max: $t = -\frac{b}{2a}$
  • Max height: $h\left(-\frac{b}{2a}\right)$

Launch (at $t = 0$)

  • Height $= c$ (the $y$-intercept)

Landing (positive $x$-intercept)

  • Solve $h(t) = 0$
    Use the positive solution when time is the context
⠿ Basic Trigonometry

SOH-CAH-TOA

right triangles only!

  • $\sin = \frac{\text{opp}}{\text{hyp}}$
  • $\cos = \frac{\text{adj}}{\text{hyp}}$
  • $\tan = \frac{\text{opp}}{\text{adj}}$

Right Triangles

  • $a^2 + b^2 = c^2$
  • Pythagorean triples: 3-4-5, 5-12-13, 8-15-17, 7-24-25

Special Right Triangles

  • $45°\text{-}45°\text{-}90°$: $x : x : x\sqrt{2}$
  • $30°\text{-}60°\text{-}90°$: $x : x\sqrt{3} : 2x$

Complementary Angles

  • $\sin(x) = \cos(90° - x)$

Conversion

  • $360° = 2\pi \text{ radians}$
⠿ Data & Probability

Statistics

  • Mean: $\text{mean} = \frac{\text{sum of items}}{\text{number of items}}$
  • Weighted mean: $\frac{\sum x_i n_i}{\sum n_i}$
  • Median: middle number after sorting
  • Range: $\text{range} = \max - \min$

Probability

  • $P = \frac{\text{favorable outcomes}}{\text{total possible outcomes}}$
  • $P(A \mid B) = \frac{\text{outcomes in both } A \text{ and } B}{\text{outcomes in } B}$
  • Complement: $P(\text{not } A) = 1 - P(A)$
    Desmos tip: Use mean(1,2,3,4,5) and median(1,2,3,4,5)
⠿ Systems of Equations

For $Ax + By = C$:

  • Slope: $-\frac{A}{B}$
  • $y$-intercept: $\frac{C}{B}$

Number of Solutions

For two standard-form lines:

  • $A_1x + B_1y = C_1$
  • $A_2x + B_2y = C_2$
  • One solution: $\frac{A_1}{A_2} \neq \frac{B_1}{B_2}$
  • Infinite solutions: $\frac{A_1}{A_2} = \frac{B_1}{B_2} = \frac{C_1}{C_2}$
  • No solutions: $\frac{A_1}{A_2} = \frac{B_1}{B_2} \neq \frac{C_1}{C_2}$
⠿ Angles & Triangles

Angle Facts

  • Vertical angles are congruent
  • Linear pair: add to $180°$
  • Circle: add to $360°$

Parallel Lines + Transversal

  • All acute angles are congruent
  • All obtuse angles are congruent

Triangles

  • Angles sum to $180°$
  • Exterior angle = sum of remote interior angles
  • Similar figures: matching side lengths scale by $k$
  • Area scale: $k^2$

Circles

  • Radius $\perp$ tangent line
  • Central angle $= 2\times$ inscribed angle
  • A diameter subtends a right angle
⠿ Circles & Factoring

Circle Equation

  • $(x-h)^2 + (y-k)^2 = r^2$
  • Center: $(h, k)$
  • Radius: $r$

Expanded Circle

$x^2 + y^2 + Ax + By + C = 0$

  • Center: $\left(-\frac{A}{2}, -\frac{B}{2}\right)$
  • $r^2$: $\left(\frac{A}{2}\right)^2 + \left(\frac{B}{2}\right)^2 - C$

Arcs & Sectors

  • Circumference: $C = 2\pi r = \pi d$
  • Area: $A = \pi r^2$
  • Arc length: $s = \frac{\theta}{360°} \cdot 2\pi r$
  • Sector area: $A = \frac{\theta}{360°} \cdot \pi r^2$

Factoring Patterns

  • Difference of squares: $a^2 - b^2 = (a+b)(a-b)$
  • Perfect square: $a^2 + 2ab + b^2 = (a+b)^2$
  • Perfect square: $a^2 - 2ab + b^2 = (a-b)^2$

Completing the Square

  • $x^2 + bx + \left(\frac{b}{2}\right)^2 = \left(x + \frac{b}{2}\right)^2$
⠿ Area & Volume

Areas

  • Semicircle area: $A = \frac{1}{2}\pi r^2$

Volumes

  • Rectangular prism: $V = lwh$
  • Cube: $V = s^3$
  • Cylinder: $V = \pi r^2 h$
  • Cone: $V = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h$
  • Sphere: $V = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$
  • Hemisphere: $V = \frac{2}{3}\pi r^3$

Surface Area

  • Rectangular prism: $SA = 2(lw + lh + wh)$
  • Cube: $SA = 6s^2$
  • Cylinder: $SA = 2\pi r^2 + 2\pi rh$
  • Sphere: $SA = 4\pi r^2$

Scaling

  • Lengths: $\times k$
  • Areas: $\times k^2$
  • Volumes: $\times k^3$
⠿ Function Notation & Transformations

Transformations

  • $f(x) + k$: shifts up/down by $k$
  • $f(x-h)$: shifts left/right by $h$
  • $f(-x)$: reflects over the $y$-axis
  • $-f(x)$: reflects over the $x$-axis
  • $a \cdot f(x)$: vertical stretch/compress by $a$
  • $f(bx)$: horizontal stretch/compress by $\frac{1}{b}$

Composition

  • $f(g(x))$: apply $g$ first, then $f$
⠿ Absolute Value

Definition

  • $|x| = x$ if $x \geq 0$
  • $|x| = -x$ if $x < 0$

Solving Equations

  • $|x| = a \Rightarrow x = a$ or $x = -a$ (when $a \geq 0$)
  • $|x| = -a$ when $a < 0$

Graphing

  • V-shape; vertex at $(h, k)$ for $y = |x-h| + k$

Inequalities

  • $|x| < a \Rightarrow -a < x < a$
  • $|x| > a \Rightarrow x < -a$ or $x > a$
⠿ Rational Expressions

Simplifying

  • Factor numerator & denominator, cancel common factors

Adding / Subtracting

  • Rewrite with a common denominator first

Excluded Values

  • Denominator $\neq 0$ — exclude those $x$ values
⠿ Sequences

Arithmetic

  • $a_n = a_1 + (n-1)d$, where $d$ = common difference

Geometric

  • $a_n = a_1 \cdot r^{n-1}$, where $r$ = common ratio
⠿ Polynomials

Remainder Theorem

  • $f(a)$ = remainder when dividing $f(x)$ by $(x-a)$

Factor Theorem

  • $(x-a)$ is a factor of $f(x)$ iff $f(a) = 0$

Zero Product Property

  • If $ab = 0$, then $a = 0$ or $b = 0$
⠿ Complex Numbers

Basics

  • $i = \sqrt{-1}$
  • $i^2 = -1$

Operations

  • $(a+bi) \pm (c+di) = (a \pm c) + (b \pm d)i$
  • $(a+bi)(c+di) = (ac-bd) + (ad+bc)i$
⠿ Inequalities

Compound Inequalities

  • $a < x < b$ means both $a < x$ and $x < b$

Flipping the Sign

  • Multiplying/dividing by a negative flips the inequality direction
⠿ Rates & Ratios

Unit Rate

  • $\text{rate} = \frac{\text{quantity}}{\text{unit}}$

Dimensional Analysis

  • Multiply by conversion factors to cancel units

Variation

  • Direct: $y = kx$
  • Inverse: $y = \frac{k}{x}$
SAT Reference Sheet
70%
r
$A = \pi r^2$
$C = 2\pi r$
ℓ w
$A = \ell w$
h b
$A = \frac{1}{2}bh$
b a c
$c^2 = a^2 + b^2$
2x 60° 30° x x√3 45° s√2 45° s s
Special Right Triangles
ℓ w h
$V = \ell wh$
r h
$V = \pi r^2 h$
r
$V = \frac{4}{3}\pi r^3$
h r
$V = \frac{1}{3}\pi r^2 h$
h ℓ w
$V = \frac{1}{3}\ell wh$
The number of degrees of arc in a circle is 360.
The number of radians of arc in a circle is $2\pi$.
The sum of the measures in degrees of the angles of a triangle is 180.
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Free Test 2

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SAT Math Practice Test

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35:00
Question 1
For a baobab tree habitat in South Africa, a scientist randomly selected $50$ baobab trees that were $17$ years old and randomly assigned them to two groups. Each group was subjected to a different watering pattern for $2$ consecutive years to observe whether the watering pattern affects the trees' growth rate.

Based on the design of the study, what is the largest group to which these results can be applied?
Question 2
The density of a certain solid substance is $813$ kilograms per cubic meter. A sample of this substance is in the shape of a cube, where each edge has a length of $0.60$ meters.

To the nearest whole number, what is the mass, in kilograms, of this sample?
Question 3
$$ a,\ 26,\ 29,\ b,\ 31,\ 47,\ c $$

For the given data set, the data values are listed in ascending order, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are constants. For this data set, the mean is $36$, the median is $29$, and the range is $72$. What is the value of $c$?
Question 4
The number of audiobooks in a library increased by $131\%$ from last year to this year. The number of audiobooks in the library last year was $n$, and the number of audiobooks in the library this year is $bn$, where $b$ and $n$ are constants.

What is the value of $b$?
Question 5
A yoga studio is offering a deal where the first session is free, the second session is half of the regular price, and the remaining sessions are at the regular price. If the regular price of a session is $25.40, which function $f$ gives the total cost, in dollars, of purchasing $x$ sessions using this deal, where $x\ge2$?
Question 6
A train traveled $173$ miles in the first $3$ hours of a trip and traveled at an average speed of $53$ miles per hour for the remainder of the trip. Which equation gives the total number of miles, $y$, the train traveled if the trip was $x$ hours long and $x>3$?
Question 7
$$ x+y=20 $$

One of the two equations in a system of linear equations is given. The system has exactly one solution. Which equation could be the second equation in the system?
Question 8
Question figure
While walking on a trail, Mary stopped to read a trail sign. The graph shows the total distance $y$, in meters, Mary had walked on the trail $x$ minutes after leaving the trail sign.

What distance, in meters, did Mary walk on the trail in the $10$ minutes after leaving the trail sign?
Question 9
$$ y=7x+18 $$

One of the equations in a system of two linear equations is given. The system has no solution. Which equation could be the second equation in the system?
Question 10
Question figure
The graph of line $g$ is shown in the $xy$-plane. Line $k$ is defined by $165x+py=w$, where $p$ and $w$ are constants. If line $k$ is graphed in this $xy$-plane, resulting in the graph of a system of two linear equations, the system of two linear equations will have infinitely many solutions. What is the value of $p+w$?
Question 11
A team hosting an event to raise money for new uniforms plans to sell at least $140$ tickets before this event and at least $220$ tickets during this event to raise a total of at least $5,820 from all tickets sold. The price of a ticket during this event is $3 less than the price of a ticket before this event.

Which inequality represents this situation, where $x$ is the price, in dollars, of a ticket sold during this event?
Question 12
A linear model estimates the population of a city from $1991$ to $2015$. The model estimates the population was $57$ thousand in $1991$, $224$ thousand in $2011$, and $x$ thousand in $2015$.

To the nearest whole number, what is the value of $x$?
Question 13
For the function $f$, $f(cx)=x-8$ for all values of $x$, where $c$ is a positive constant. If $f(2)=35$, what is the value of $c$?
Question 14
$$ y<6x+2 $$

For which of the following tables are all the values of $x$ and their corresponding values of $y$ solutions to the given inequality?
Question 15
The cost of renting a large canopy tent for up to $10$ days is $430 for the first day and $215 for each additional day. Which of the following equations gives the cost $y$, in dollars, of renting the tent for $x$ days, where $x$ is a positive integer and $x\le10$?
Question 16
Question figure
Line $k$ is shown in the $xy$-plane. Line $j$ (not shown) is perpendicular to line $k$. What is the slope of line $j$?
Question 17
For a particular car, the linear function $f$ gives the predicted power, in brake horsepower (bhp), for engine speeds between $1,000$ revolutions per minute (rpm) and $6,000$ rpm. According to this function, the car's predicted power is $433$ bhp at an engine speed of $3,331$ rpm and $600$ bhp at an engine speed of $4,500$ rpm.

The equation $f(x)=\dfrac{1}{7}(x-a)+433$ defines $f$, where $x$ is the engine speed, in rpm, and $a$ is a constant. What is the value of $a$?
Question 18
$$ 2x+9y=7 $$

The given equation is one equation in a system of two linear equations. If the system of equations has at least one solution, which of the following equations could be the other equation in the system?

I. $3x+13.5y=10.5$
II. $3x-13.5y=10.5$
Question 19
Which system of linear equations has no solution?
Question 20
$$ 11x+14y\le115 $$

Anthony will spend at most $115 to purchase $x$ small cheese pizzas and $y$ large cheese pizzas for a team dinner. The given inequality represents this situation.

Which of the following is the best interpretation of $14y$ in this context?
Question 21
$$ -x-wy=-337 $$

$$ 2x-wy=47 $$

In the given system of equations, $w$ is a constant. In the $xy$-plane, the graphs of these equations intersect at the point $(q,19)$, where $q$ is a constant. What is the value of $w$?
Question 22
Question figure
The graph of $y=f(x)-11$ is shown.

Which equation defines the linear function $f$?

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