Math Formulas for the GED exam

When taking the GED Math test, you should be familiar with arithmetic and math concepts, measurements, equations, and applying math concepts to solve real-life problems.

However, the math test is not a memorization test! You’ll have access to a formula sheet that gives you information like how to calculate the area for different shapes.

You should get familiar with formulas below just to know what to expect.


AREA of a:

square Area = side2
rectangle Area = length × width
parallelogram Area = base × height
triangle Area = 1/2 × base × height
trapezoid Area = 1/2 × (base1 + base2) × height
circle Area = p × radius2; p is approximately equal to 3.14.


square Perimeter = 4 × side
rectangle Perimeter = 2 × length + 2 × width
triangle Perimeter = side1 + side2 + side3
CIRCUMFERENCE of a circle Circumference = p × diameter; p is approximately equal to 3.14.

VOLUME of a:

cube Volume = edge3
rectangular solid Volume = length × width × height
square pyramid Volume = 1/3 × (base edge)2 × height
cylinder Volume = p × radius2 × height; p is approximately equal to 3.14.
Cone Volume = 1/3 × p × radius2 × height; p is approximately equal to 3.14.

COORDINATE GEOMETRY distance between points = ; (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two points in a plane.slope of a line = ; (x1, y1) and (x2, y2) are two points on the line.

PYTHAGOREAN RELATIONSHIP a2 + b2 = c2; a and b are legs and c the hypotenuse of a right triangle.

MEASURES OF CENTRAL TENDENCY mean = , where the x‘s are the values for which a mean is desired, and n is the total number of values for x.median = the middle value of an odd number of ordered scores, and halfway between the two middle values of an even number of ordered scores.

SIMPLE INTEREST interest = principal × rate × time
DISTANCE distance = rate × time
TOTAL COST total cost = (number of units) × (price per unit)

You don’t need to know everything in this guide! The GED Math test covers content fields like Number Operations and Number Sense (some 20 to 30 percent), Measurement and Geometry (20 to 30 percent), Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability (20 to 30 percent), and Algebra, Functions, and Patterns (also some 20 to 30 percent).

You are allowed 115 minutes to deal with all the GED Math questions