SAT Math Cheat Sheet
■ Geometry & Measurement
- Area of circle: A = πr²
- Circumference of circle: C = 2πr
- Area of rectangle: A = lw
- Area of triangle: A = ½bh
- Pythagorean theorem: a² + b² = c²
- Triangle angle sum: 180°
- Volumes:
• Rectangular prism = lwh
• Cylinder = πr²h
• Sphere = 4/3 πr³
• Cone = 1/3 πr²h
• Pyramid = 1/3 (area of base × h)
- Equation of a circle: (x – h)² + (y – k)² = r²
■ Algebra & Linear
- Slope formula: m = (y■ – y■) / (x■ – x■)
- Slope-intercept: y = mx + b
- Point-slope: y – y■ = m(x – x■)
- Standard: Ax + By = C
- Distance: √[(x■ – x■)² + (y■ – y■)²]
- Midpoint: ((x■+x■)/2, (y■+y■)/2)
■ Quadratics & Polynomials
- Quadratic formula: x = (–b ± √(b² – 4ac)) / 2a
- Discriminant: b² – 4ac
- Forms:
• Standard: ax² + bx + c
• Vertex: a(x – h)² + k
• Factored: a(x – r■)(x – r■)
- Vertex: (–b / 2a, f(–b / 2a))
■ Exponents & Radicals
- a■ × a■ = a■■■
- a■ ÷ a■ = a■■■
- (a■)■ = a■■
- a■■ = 1 / a■
- √a × √b = √(ab)
■ Data & Statistics
- Mean = (sum of terms) / (number of terms)
- Probability = (# favorable) / (total outcomes)
- Percent change = (new – old) / old × 100%
- Growth/Decay: Final = Initial × (1 ± r)■
■ Trigonometry
- SOHCAHTOA:
• sin θ = opposite / hypotenuse
• cos θ = adjacent / hypotenuse
• tan θ = opposite / adjacent
- Special triangles:
• 45°–45°–90°: sides x, x, x√2
• 30°–60°–90°: sides x, x√3, 2x
■ Quick Tips & Tricks
- If too algebra-heavy → plug in numbers
- Function shifts: f(x + c) → left, f(x – c) → right, +k → up, –k → down
- Evenly spaced sets mean = (first + last)/2
- Word problems: “is” = =, “of” = ×, “per” = ÷