GED Mathematical

Reasoning Formulas
All Mathematics Formulas a GED
Math Test Taker Must Know!

Created by: Effortless Math Education

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Taking the GED with only a few weeks or even few days to study?

First and foremost, you should understand that the 2019 GED® Mathematical Reasoning
test contains a formula sheet, which displays formulas relating to geometric
measurement and certain algebra concepts. Formulas are provided to test-takers so
that they may focus on application, rather than the memorization, of formulas.
However, the test does not provide a list of all basic formulas that will be required to
know for the test. This means that you will need to be able to recall many math
formulas on the GED.

Below you will find the 2019 GED® Mathematics Formula Sheet followed by a complete
list of all Math formulas you MUST have learned before test day, as well as some
explanations for how to use them and what they mean. Keep this list around for a quick
reminder when you forget one of the formulas.

Review them all, then take a look at the math topics to begin applying them!

Good luck!

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

GED Mathematical Reasoning Formula Sheet

Area of a:
Square 𝐴 = 𝑠2
Rectangle 𝐴 = 𝑙𝑤
Parallelogram 𝐴 = 𝑏ℎ
Triangle 1
𝐴 = 𝑏ℎ
2
Trapezoid 1
𝐴 = ℎ(𝑏1 + 𝑏2 )
2
Circle

Surface Area and Volume of a:

Rectangular 𝑆𝐴 = 2𝑙𝑤 + 2𝑙ℎ + 2𝑤ℎ 𝑉 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ
Right Prism 𝑆𝐴 = 𝑝ℎ + 2𝐵 𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ
Cylinder 𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ + 2𝜋𝑟 2 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
Pyramid 1 1
𝑆𝐴 = 𝑝𝑠 + 𝐵 𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ
2 3
Cone 𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟 + 𝜋𝑟 2 1
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
3
Sphere 𝑆𝐴 = 4𝜋𝑟 2 4
𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 3
3
(𝑝 = perimeter of base 𝐵; 𝜋 = 3.14)

Algebra
Slope of a line 𝑦2 − 𝑦1
𝑚=
𝑥2 − 𝑥1
Slope-intercept form of the equation of a line 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏
Point-slope form of the Equation of a line 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 )
Standard form of a Quadratic equation 𝑦 = 𝑎𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐
Quadratic formula −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
𝑥=
2𝑎
Pythagorean theorem 𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2

Simple interest 𝐼 = 𝑝𝑟𝑡

(𝐼 = interest, 𝑝 = principal, 𝑟 = rate, 𝑡 = time)

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

A Quick Review and the List of all GED Mathematics

Formulas
Place Value Fractions
𝑎
The value of the place, or position, A number expressed in the form 𝑏
of a digit in a number. Adding and Subtracting with the
Example: In 456, the 5 is in “tens” same denominator:
position. 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎+𝑐
+ =
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
Comparing Numbers Signs 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎−𝑐
Equal to = − =
𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
Less than < Adding and Subtracting with the
Greater than >
different denominator:
Greater than or equal ≥ 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑 + 𝑐𝑏
Less than or equal ≤ + =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
Rounding 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎𝑑− 𝑐𝑏
Putting a number up or down to the − =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑑
nearest whole number or the
nearest hundred, etc. Multiplying and Dividing Fractions:
Example: 64 rounded to the nearest 𝑎 𝑐 𝑎×𝑐
ten is 60, because 64 is closer to 60 × =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏×d
than to 70. 𝑎
𝑎 𝑐 𝑏 𝑎𝑑
Whole Number ÷ = 𝑐 =
𝑏 𝑑 𝑏𝑐
The numbers {0, 1, 2, 3, … } 𝑑
Mixed Numbers
Estimates A number composed of a whole
Find a number close to the exact number and fraction
answer. 2
Example: 2 3
Decimals Converting between improper
Is a fraction written in a special fractions and mixed numbers:
form. For example, instead of a 𝑐 = a + 𝑐 = 𝑎𝑏+ 𝑐
1 𝑏 𝑏 𝑏
writing you can write 0.5.
2
Factoring Numbers Divisibility Rules
Factor a number means to break it Divisibility means that you are able
up into numbers that can be to divide a number evenly.
multiplied together to get the Example: 24 is divisible by 6,
original number. because 24 ÷ 6 = 4
Example: 12 = 2 × 2 × 3

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Greatest Common Factor Least Common Multiple

Multiply common prime factors Check multiples of the largest
Example: 200 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 5 × 5 number
60 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 5 Example: LCM (200, 60): 200 (no),
GCF (200, 60) = 2 × 2 × 5 = 20 400 (no), 600 (yes!)

Integers Real Numbers

{… , −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3, … } All numbers that are on number
Includes: zero, counting numbers, line. Integers plus fractions,
and the negative of the counting decimals, and irrationals
numbers (√2, √3, 𝜋, etc.)
Order of Operations Absolute Value
PEMDAS Refers to the distance of a number
(parentheses / exponents / from 0, the distances are positive
multiply / divide / add / subtract) as absolute value of a number
cannot be negative. |−22| = 22
Ratios
A ratio is a comparison of two 𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 ≥ 0
numbers by division. |𝑥| = { −𝑥 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑥 < 0
3
Example: 3: 5, or |𝑥| < 𝑛 ⇒ −𝑛 < 𝑥 < 𝑛
5
|𝑥| > 𝑛 ⇒ 𝑥 < −𝑛 or 𝑥 > 𝑛
Percentages Proportional Ratios
use the following formula to find A proportion means that two ratios
part, whole, or percent are equal. It can be written in two
percent ways:
𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 = 100 × 𝑤ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑒
𝑎 𝑐
= , 𝑎: 𝑏 = 𝑐: 𝑑
Percent of Change 𝑏 𝑑
𝑁𝑒𝑤 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑂𝑙𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
× 100%
𝑂𝑙𝑑 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

Markup Discount
Markup = selling price – cost Multiply the regular price by the
Markup rate = markup divided by rate of discount
the cost Selling price =
original price – discount
Expressions and Variables Tax
A variable is a letter that represents To find tax, multiply the tax rate to
unspecified numbers. One may use the taxable amount (income,
a variable in the same manner as all property value, etc.)
other numbers:

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Addition 2 + 𝑎 2 plus 𝑎 Distributive Property

𝑎(𝑏 + 𝑐) = 𝑎𝑏 + 𝑎𝑐
Subtraction 𝑦– 3 𝑦 minus 3
4 4 divided Polynomial
Division
by 𝑥 𝑃(𝑥) = 𝑎0 𝑥 𝑛 + 𝑎1 𝑥 𝑛−1 + ⋯ +
𝑥
𝑎𝑛−2 𝑥 2 + 𝑎𝑛−1 𝑥 + 𝑎𝑛
Multiplication 5𝑎 5 times 𝑎

Systems of Equations Equations

Two or more equations working The values of two mathematical
−2𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 4 expressions are equal.
together. example: {
−2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3 𝑎𝑥 + 𝑏 = 𝑐
Inequalities Solving Systems of
Says that two values are not equal Equations by Substitution
𝑎 ≠𝑏 a not equal to b Consider the system of
𝑎 <𝑏 a less than b equations
𝑎 >𝑏 a greater than b 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 1, −2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 6
𝑎 ≥𝑏 a greater than or equal b Substitute 𝑥 = 1 − 𝑦 in the
𝑎 ≤𝑏 a less than or equal b second equation
−2(1 − 𝑦) + 𝑦 = 5 𝑦=2
Lines (Linear Functions) Substitute 𝑦 = 2 in 𝑥 = 1 + 𝑦
Consider the line that goes through
𝑥 = 1+2= 3
points 𝐴(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) and 𝐵(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ).

Distance from 𝑨(𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) to

𝑩(𝑥2 , 𝑦2 ):
√(𝑥1 − 𝑥2 )2 + (𝑦1 − 𝑦2 )2

Solving Systems of
Mid-point of the segment AB: Equations by Elimination
𝑥1 +𝑥2 𝑦1 +𝑦2
M( , ) Example:
2 2 𝑥 + 2𝑦 = 6
+ −𝑥+𝑦 = 3
Slope of the line:
𝑦2 − 𝑦1 𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑒 3𝑦 = 9
= 𝑦=3
𝑥2 − 𝑥1 run
𝑥+6=6
𝑥=0

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Point-slope form: Parallel lines

Given the slope m and a Have equal slopes.
point (𝑥1 , 𝑦1 ) on the line, the Perpendicular lines (i.e., those
equation of the line is that make a 90° angle where
they intersect) have negative
(𝑦 − 𝑦1 ) = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1 ).
reciprocal slopes:
Slope-intercept form: given 𝑚1 . 𝑚2 = −1.
the slope m and the y-
intercept 𝑏, then the
equation of the line is:

𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑏.

Scientific Notation Intersecting Lines

It is a way of expressing numbers that Parallel Lines (l ‖m)
are too big or too small to be
conveniently written in decimal form. Intersecting lines: opposite
In scientific notation all numbers are angles are equal. Also, each pair
written in this form: 𝑚 × 10𝑛 of angles along the same line
add to 180°. In the figure
Decimal
notation
Scientific notation above, 𝑎 + 𝑏 = 180°.
5 5 × 100
−25,000 −2.5 × 104 Parallel lines: eight angles are
formed when a line crosses two
0.5 5 × 10−1
parallel lines. The four big
2,122.456 2,122456 × 103
angles (𝑎) are equal, and the
four small angles (𝑏) are equal.

Exponents Factoring
Refers to the number of times a “FOIL”
number is multiplied by itself. (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏)
8 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 23 = 𝑥 2 + (𝑏 + 𝑎)𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Square
The number we get after multiplying “Difference of Squares”
an integer (not a fraction) by itself. 𝑎2 − 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏)
Example: 2 × 2 = 4, 22 = 4 𝑎2 + 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 + 𝑏)(𝑎 + 𝑏)
Square Roots 𝑎2 − 2𝑎𝑏 + 𝑏 2 = (𝑎 − 𝑏)(𝑎 − 𝑏)
A square root of 𝑥 is a number r
whose square is 𝑥 : 𝑟 2 = 𝑥 “Reverse FOIL”
𝑟 is a square root of 𝑥 𝑥 2 + (𝑏 + 𝑎)𝑥 + 𝑎𝑏 =
Pythagorean Theorem (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏)
𝑎2 + 𝑏 2 = 𝑐 2
Triangles You can use Reverse FOIL to factor a
polynomial by thinking about two
numbers a and b which add to the
Right triangles:
number in front of the 𝑥, and which
multiply to give the constant. For
example, to factor 𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6, the
𝑐 numbers add to 5 and multiply to 6,
𝑏
i.e.:
𝑎 = 2 and 𝑏 = 3, so that
𝑎
𝑥 2 + 5𝑥 + 6 = (𝑥 + 2)(𝑥 + 3).

60° To solve a quadratic such as

𝑥 𝑥 2 + 𝑏𝑥 + 𝑐 = 0, first factor the left
30° side to get (𝑥 + 𝑎)(𝑥 + 𝑏) = 0, then
𝑥√3 set each part in parentheses equal to
zero. For example, 𝑥 2 + 4𝑥 + 3 =
(𝑥 + 3)(𝑥 + 1) = 0 so that 𝑥 = −3
45° or 𝑥 = −1.
To solve two linear equations in x and
y: use the first equation to substitute
45° for a variable in the second. E.g.,
suppose 𝑥 + 𝑦 = 3 and 4𝑥 − 𝑦 = 2.
The first equation gives 𝑦 = 3 − 𝑥, so
the second equation becomes
4𝑥 − (3 − 𝑥) = 2 ⇒ 5𝑥 − 3 = 2
⇒ 𝑥 = 1, 𝑦 = 2.

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Triangles
A good example of a right triangle is
one with 𝑎 = 3, 𝑏 = 4, and 𝑐 = 5,
also called a 3– 4– 5 right triangle.
ℎ
Note that multiples of these
numbers are also right triangles. For
example, if you multiply these
numbers by 2, you get 𝑎 = 6, 𝑏 = 8, 𝑏
and 1
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 2 b . h
𝑐 = 10(6– 8– 10), which is also a
right triangle. Angles on the inside of any triangle
add up to 180°.
Circles The length of one side of any triangle
is always less than the sum and more
than the difference of the lengths of
the other two sides.
An exterior angle of any triangle is
equal to the sum of the two remote
interior angles. Other important
triangles:

𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝜋𝑟 2 Equilateral:
𝐶𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑢𝑚𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 = 2𝜋𝑟 These triangles have three equal
𝐹𝑢𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝑖𝑟𝑐𝑙𝑒 = 360° sides, and all three angles are 60°.
Isosceles:
An isosceles triangle has two equal
sides. The “base” angles
(the ones opposite the two sides) are
equal (see the 45° triangle above).
n◦
Similar:
Two or more triangles are similar if
they have the same shape. The
Length Of 𝐴𝑟𝑐 = (𝑛°/360°) × 2𝜋𝑟 corresponding angles are equal, and
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑂𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 the corresponding sides are in
= (𝑛°/360°) × 𝜋𝑟 2 proportion. For example, the 3– 4– 5
triangle and the 6– 8– 10 triangle
from before are similar since their
sides are in a ratio of 2 to 1.

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Area of a parallelogram: Rectangles

𝐴 = 𝑏ℎ

Area of a trapezoid:
1 𝑤
𝐀 = 2 h (𝑏1 + b2 ) 𝑙
Solids

(Square if 𝑙 = 𝑤)
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑙𝑤

Rectangular Solid Parallelogram

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ (Rhombus if 𝑙 = 𝑤)
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 2(𝑙𝑤 + 𝑤ℎ + 𝑙ℎ) 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 𝑙ℎ

Regular polygons are n-sided

figures with all sides equal and all
angles equal.
The sum of the inside angles of an
n-sided regular polygon is
(𝑛 − 2) . 180°.

Surface Area and Volume of a

rectangular/right prism:
Right Cylinder
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
𝑆𝐴 = 𝑝ℎ + 2𝐵
𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 = 2𝜋𝑟(𝑟 + ℎ)
𝑉 = 𝐵ℎ

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑎 Surface Area and Volume of a

mean:
total number of entries cylinder:
𝑆𝐴 = 2𝜋𝑟ℎ + 2𝜋𝑟 2
mode: value in the list that appears 𝑉 = 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
most often
Surface Area and Volume of a
range: largest value - smallest Pyramid
value 1
𝑆𝐴 = 2 𝑝𝑠 + 𝑏
1
Median 𝑉 = 3 𝑏ℎ
Middle value in the list (which
must be sorted) Surface Area and Volume of a
Example: median of Cone
{3, 10, 9, 27, 50} = 10 𝑆𝐴 = 𝜋𝑟𝑠 + 𝜋𝑟 2
Example: median of 1
𝑉 = 3 𝜋𝑟 2 ℎ
(9+10)
{3, 9, 10, 27} = = 9.5
2
Surface Area and Volume of a
Sum Sphere
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 × (𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑚𝑠) 𝑆𝐴 = 4𝜋𝑟 2
4 3
𝑉= 𝜋𝑟
Average 3
sum of terms
number of terms (p = perimeter of base 𝐵; 𝜋 ~ 3.14 )
Average speed Quadratic formula
total distance
𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒 = −𝑏 ± √𝑏 2 − 4𝑎𝑐
total time 𝑥=
2𝑎
Factorials
Simple interest
Factorial- the product of a number
and all counting numbers below it. 𝐼 = 𝑝𝑟𝑡
(I = interest, p = principal, r = rate, t =
8 factorial = 8! =
time)
8×7×6×5×4×3×2×1
= 40,320
5 factorial = 5! =
5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1 = 120
2 factorial = 2! = 2 × 1 = 2

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Probability Powers, Exponents, Roots

𝑥 𝑎 . 𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎+𝑏
𝑥𝑎
𝑃𝑟𝑜𝑏𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 = 𝑥 𝑎−𝑏
number of total outcomes 𝑥𝑏
1
= 𝑥 −𝑏
𝑥𝑏
The probability of two different (𝑥 𝑎 )𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎.𝑏
events A and B both happening is:
(𝑥𝑦)𝑎 = 𝑥 𝑎 . 𝑦 𝑎
𝑃(𝐴 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐵) = 𝑝(𝐴) . 𝑝(𝐵)
𝑥0 = 1
as long as the events are
independent (not mutually √𝑥𝑦 = √𝑥 . √𝑦
exclusive).
(−1)𝑛 = −1, if 𝑛 is odd.
𝑛
Exponents: Multiplying Two Powers (−1) = +1, if 𝑛 is even.
of the SAME Base
If 0 < 𝑥 < 1, then
When the bases are the same, you 0 < 𝑥 3 < 𝑥 2 < 𝑥 < √𝑥 < √3𝑥 < 1.
find the new power by just adding
Interest
the exponents
𝑥 𝑎 . 𝑥 𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎+𝑏 Simple Interest
The charge for borrowing money
Multiplying Two Powers of or the return for lending it.
Different Bases Same Exponent 𝐼𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡 = 𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑝𝑎𝑙 × 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 × 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒
OR
If the bases are different but the 𝐼 = 𝑝𝑟𝑡
exponents are the same, then you
can combine them Compound Interest
𝑥 𝑎 . 𝑦 𝑎 = (𝑥𝑦)𝑎 Interest computed on the
accumulated unpaid interest as
Powers of Powers well as on the original principal.
𝐴 = 𝑃(1 + 𝑟)𝑡
For power of a power: you multiply 𝐴 = amount at end of time
the exponents. 𝑃 = principal (starting amount)
(𝑥 𝑎 )𝑏 = 𝑥 (𝑎𝑏) 𝑟 = interest rate (change to a
decimal i.e. 50% = 0.50)
𝑡 = number of years invested

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 GED Mathematical Reasoning Formulas

Positive Exponents Dividing Powers

𝑎
An exponent is simply shorthand for 𝑥 = 𝑥 𝑎 𝑥 −𝑏 = 𝑥 𝑎−𝑏
𝑏
multiplying that number of identical 𝑥
factors. So 4³ is the same as
The Zero Exponent
(4)(4)(4), three identical factors of 4.
Anything to the 0 power is 1.
And 𝑥³ is just three factors of 𝑥,
𝑥0 = 1
(𝑥)(𝑥)(𝑥). 40 = 1
(300)0 = 1
Negative Exponents
A negative exponent means to
divide by that number of factors
instead of multiplying.
1
So 4−3 is the same as 43 and
1
𝑥 −3 = 3
𝑥

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