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GMAT Math Formulas: All GMAT Maths Formulas You Need in 2024

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Rohan Deshmukh
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The quantitative reasoning section of the GMAT tests your ability to reason mathematically, solve quantitative questions, and analyse graphs using GMAT quantitative formulas and reasoning. There are 31 questions in all to solve  62 minutes.  Data sufficiency and Problem Solving problems make up the two parts in the Quantitative Section. It's necessary to grasp basic arithmetic and geometry concepts to answer both types of questions.

To get a solid score on the math section of the GMAT, you need to know all of the GMAT math formulas. This will expedite and simplify the process of answering questions. Read on because this GMAT Math Crash Course will catch you up on the fundamental geometry GMAT Maths formula sheet you need to know in order to ace the quant section.

  Table Of Contents:

  1. An Overview of GMAT Math Syllabus
  2. A Breakdown of GMAT Math Section
  3. GMAT Math Cheat Sheet

An Overview of GMAT Math Syllabus

The quant section is split into problem solving and data sufficiency.

  • Problem Solving tests your ability to solve quantitative problems with logic and analysis.You solve a problem and choose from five answer choices.
  • Data sufficiency measures your ability to assess a quantitative problem, identify relevant data, and determine when there's enough data to solve it. A question and two statements will be supplied. Using the statement data and all gmat math formulas and factual skills, you evaluate if it's enough to answer the question.

All you need to know about GMAT Quantitative Reasoning

A Breakdown of The GMAT Math Areas

Mathematical concepts such as arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and word problems will be tested on the GMAT. Before we dive into the GMAT Math formulas, let's go over the math areas you'll encounter in the GMAT.

Arithmetic

Number sense, numerical operations, etc.

Algebra

Fundamental manipulation of expressions, gmat math formula sheet pdf and solving GMAT Math equations

Geometry

Angles, lines, circles and so on

Word Problems/Applications

Statistics, critical reasoning and understanding how to apply what you know from other areas of math.

GMAT Math Formula Cheat Sheet

GMAT is adaptive, means that if you get a few questions right on the GMAT, the next one will likely be more challenging. This is simply how the test determines your level of math proficiency.

In addition, you won't come across any questions that need more than a rudimentary grasp of GMAT quantitative formulas and all GMAT math formulas from high school.  Data interpretation, critical reasoning, and word problems are the focus of this course. The following is a list of the GMAT Math formulas/GMAT math equations that you need to be familiar with in order to take the test. You can even get a gmat math cheat sheet pdf by printing this page.

GMAT Geometry Formulas

  1. AREA & PERIMETER FORMULAS

Square:

Area: (length)2

Perimeter: 4(length)

Rectangle:

Area: length * width

Perimeter: 2(length) + 2(width)

Parallelogram:

Area: base * height

Perimeter: 2(base) + 2(height)

Circles:

Area: πr2

Circumference of a circle: 2πr

Triangle:

Area: (1/2) base * height

Pythagorean Theorem (for determining the length of sides of a right triangle): a2 + b2=c2

Trapezoid:

Area: (1/2) (a+c)/h where a and c are the length of the parallel sides

  1. CIRCLE FORMULAS

Central Angle: 2(inscribed angle)

Area of Sector: (x/360) * πr2

  1. VOLUME FORMULAS

Cube: (length)3

Rectangular prism: length * width * height

Cylinder: πr2h

Cone: (1/3) πr2h

Pyramid: (1/3) base length * base width * height

Sphere: (4/3)πr3

GMAT Arithmetic Formulas

  1. ORDER OF OPERATIONS

Parentheses – Exponents – Multiplication – Division – Addition – Subtraction (PEMDAS)

NUMBER PROPERTIES

  • (Positive Number) * (Positive Number) = (Positive Number)
  • (Positive Number) * (Negative Number) = (Negative Number)
  • (Negative Number) * (Negative Number) = (Positive Number)
  • (Positive Number) / (Positive Number) = (Positive Number)
  • (Positive Number) / (Negative Number) = (Negative Number)
  • (Negative Number) / (Negative Number) = (Positive Number)
  • (Odd Number) + (Odd Number) = (Even Number)
  • (Odd Number) – (Odd Number) = (Even Number)
  • (Odd Number) + (Even Number) = (Odd Number)
  • (Odd Number) – (Even Number) = (Odd Number)
  • (Even Number) + (Even Number) = (Even Number)
  • (Even Number) – (Even Number) = (Even Number)
  • (Odd Number) * (Odd Number) = (Odd Number)
  • (Odd Number) * (Even Number) = (Even Number)
  • (Even Number) * (Even Number) = (Even Number)

PERMUTATIONS AND COMBINATIONS

Permutation formula: nPr = n! / (n-r)!

Combination formula: nCr = n! / (r!)(n-r)!

PROBABILITY

Probability = (Number of favourable outcomes) / (Number of all possible outcomes)

Probability of events A & B happening = (Probability of A) * (Probability of B)

Probability of either event A or B happening= (Probability of A) + (Probability of B)

GMAT Algebra Formulas

  1. ABSOLUTE VALUE

|x| depicts the absolute value.

|x| = x

|-x| = x

|x| = |-x|

|x| ≥ 0

|x| + |y| ≥ |x+y| 

  1. BASE - EXPONENT RELATIONSHIPS

In the expression xn, ‘x’ is the base and ‘n’ is the exponent. To interpret it, the base ‘x’ gets multiplied ‘n’ times. Some rules and formulas that apply to base/exponents:

0n= 0

1n =1

x0 =1

x1= x

(x)-n=1 / xn

xm * xn = x m+n

x m/x n = x m-n

(x m ) n = x m*n

(x/y) n = (x) n /(y) n

  1. QUADRATIC GMAT MATH EQUATIONS

ax2 + bx + c = 0

          x = (-b ∓ √[b2 - 4ac]) / 2a

  1. INTEREST

Simple Interest = P*r*t

P = starting principle; r = annual interest rate; t = number of years

Annual Compound Interest = P(1+r)t

Compound Interest = P(1 + r/x) xt ; x = number of times the interest compounds over the year

  1. OTHER

Distance = Speed * Time

Wage = Rate * Time

You now have a better idea of what to expect on the GMAT's section on quantitative reasoning. It’s recommended that you learn this GMAT maths formula sheet by heart. Don’t forget to take a print of gmat math formulas cheat sheet pdf by printing this page. You must have a solid preparation plan for GMAT. During the exam, don't work the numbers out in your head, rather, jot down your scratch work. Finally, don't forget to practise, and learn from your mistakes. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions about GMAT Math Formulas

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