Arithmetic Formulas
Arithmetic formulas are mathematical expressions that include basic mathematical operations such as addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication. These formulas follow a systematic way of calculating and solving various numerical problems. Some of the most essential arithmetic formulas vital for GMAT preparation are:
- Finding the Area of a Rectangle: A = L*W
- Finding the Area of a Circle: A = π r²
- Finding the Area of a Parallelogram: A= b*h
- Finding the Area of a Trapezoid: A = ½ h(b1 + b2)
- Percentage Change: (New Value - Old Value)/Old Value* 100%
Algebra Formulas
Algebra is one of the mandatory requirements and a compulsory section in the GMAT quant section. Questions on algebra are mainly tricky, which is why students must have enough knowledge about its concepts and essential formulas.
- Finding the difference in Two Squares: a2–b2=(a−b)(a+b)
- Squaring a Binomial: (a±b)2=a2±2ab+b2
- Finding the Discriminant: D=b2–4ac
- Quadratic Formula: For ax^2 + bx + c = 0, x = (-b ± √(b^2 - 4ac)) / (2a)
Geometry Formulas
Geometry is another vital part of the GMAT quant section. Questions from geometry appear in both the problem-solving and data-sufficiency sections, which is why it is crucial to practice geometry principles thoroughly and learn the formulas by heart. Questions on geometry can come from sections like triangles, lines and angles, polygons, solids, circles, and even coordinate geometry. Some of the most essential geometry formulas to prepare for the GMAT exam are:
- Triangle- Area: (1/2) base * height
- Pythagoras Theorem: a2 + b2 = c2
- Parallelogram: Area= base * height
- Rectangle: Area= length * width
- Circles: Area= πr2
- Circumference of a circle: 2πr
Exponents and Radicals Formulas
The GMAT examination also assesses your understanding of exponents and radicals, and thus, mastering their rules and formulas is equally essential. The most important exponent and radical GMAT math formulas include:
Exponents
- Product of Powers: a^m * a^n = a^(m+n)
- Quotient of Powers: a^m / a^n = a^(m-n)
- Power of a Power: (a^m)^n = a^(m*n)
- Power of a Product: (ab)^m = a^m * b^m
- Power of a Quotient: (a/b)^m = a^m / b^m
- Negative Exponent: a^(-m) = 1 / a^m
Radicals
- Square Root: √a * √a = a
- Cube Root: ∛a * ∛a * ∛a = a
- nth Root: √n√a = a^(1/n)
Probability Formulas
Probability comprises several mathematical concepts; for GMAT, students must understand each concept thoroughly and master the formulas. The most important probability GMAT math formulas include:
- Probability of an Event: P (A)= No. of favorable outcomes/ Total no. of possible outcomes.
- Complementary Probability: P(A') = 1 - P(A)
Coordinate Geometry Formulas
A significant part of the quant section, coordinate geometry formulas are among the most important GMAT math formulas used for analyzing geometric shapes using algebraic equations. The most important coordinate geometry formulas to prepare for GMAT are:
- Finding the Slope of a Line: m = (y2 - y1) / (x2 - x1)
- Distance Formula: d = √[(x2 - x1)^2 + (y2 - y1)^2]
- Midpoint Formula: m = [((x1 + x2)/2), ((y1 + y2)/2)]