{"id":3579,"date":"2013-03-26T09:03:53","date_gmt":"2013-03-26T16:03:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/?p=3579"},"modified":"2020-01-15T10:49:56","modified_gmt":"2020-01-15T18:49:56","slug":"gmat-math-equations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/gmat-math-equations\/","title":{"rendered":"GMAT Math Equations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here’s a brief rundown of important GMAT math equations to know.\u00a0 This outline will follow the organization of the “Math Review” in the GMAT OG.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Arithmetic<\/h2>\n

It’s not really an equation, but you should know how to add & subtract & multiply & divide fractions<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0 Percents<\/a> are all over the GMAT, and you should understand converting among decimals & fractions & percents, as well as the crucial topic of percent changes.\u00a0 Among the big arithmetic equations are:<\/p>\n

= the “remainder” equation<\/a> (a.k.a. “rebuilding the dividend”)<\/p>\n

= the doubling and halving<\/a> method<\/p>\n

= the laws of exponents<\/a><\/p>\n

= the average formula<\/a> (esp. for finding the sum)<\/p>\n

= the probability “AND” and “OR” rules<\/a><\/p>\n

= the Fundamental Counting Principle<\/a><\/p>\n

= the formulas for permutations & combinations<\/a><\/p>\n

= factorials<\/a><\/p>\n

Notice, I do not list standard deviation as an equation you need to know — you need to understand the properties of standard deviation<\/a>, but not the exact formula.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Algebra<\/h2>\n

It’s not really an equation, but you should understand the procedures for solving for x, or solving for two variables with two equations<\/a>.\u00a0 You should understand the rules for inequalities.\u00a0 Ironically, I will not recommend perhaps the most famous high school algebra equation, the Quadratic Formula — it’s much more important on the GMAT to know how to solve quadratics by factoring<\/a>.\u00a0 Algebra equations important on the GMAT include:<\/p>\n

= the FOIL pattern<\/a><\/p>\n

= absolute values and negatives<\/a> produce befuddling equations<\/p>\n

= function notation<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Geometry<\/h2>\n

The beautiful realm of geometry entails several important formulas, starting with the great granddaddy of them all:<\/p>\n

= The Pythagorean Theorem<\/a><\/p>\n

others include:<\/p>\n

= area of a triangle<\/a> (A = 0.5bh)<\/p>\n

= area of a rectangle (A = bh)<\/p>\n

= \"c<\/p>\n

= Archimedes’ formula: \"A<\/p>\n

= Volume of a box = (height)*(width)*(depth)<\/p>\n

= slope<\/a> in the x-y plane<\/p>\n

= slopes for parallel & perpendicular lines<\/a><\/p>\n

= the special properties of the line y = x<\/a><\/p>\n

Oddly, I am going to strongly recommend NOT to memorize a formula for finding distance in the x-y plane<\/a> — I explain what to do instead at that link. \u00a0\ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Word Problems<\/h2>\n

= rate<\/a>, distance, and time<\/p>\n

= work rate<\/a><\/p>\n

= mixture equations<\/a><\/p>\n

= (profit) = (revenue) \u2013 (cost)<\/p>\n

Problems of interest and discount just involve the same percent<\/a> equations discussed above.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

See also:<\/h2>\n

How to study for GMAT math<\/a><\/p>\n

Mathematical thinking on the GMAT<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

If you have questions or feedback about the GMAT math equations you’ll need to know, please let us know in the comments section below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here’s a brief rundown of important GMAT math equations to know.\u00a0 This outline will follow the organization of the “Math Review” in the GMAT OG.   Arithmetic It’s not really an equation, but you should know how to add & subtract & multiply & divide fractions.\u00a0\u00a0 Percents are all over the GMAT, and you should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[112],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[13209],"class_list":["post-3579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-math"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGMAT Math Equations<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondering what GMAT math equations you'll need to know on test day? 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Beyond standardized testing, Mike has over 20 years of both private and public high school teaching experience specializing in math and physics. In his free time, Mike likes smashing foosballs into orbit, and despite having no obvious cranial deficiency, he insists on rooting for the NY Mets. Learn more about the GMAT through Mike's Youtube video explanations.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MagooshGMATChannel\/featured"],"award":["Magna cum laude from Harvard"],"knowsAbout":["GMAT"],"knowsLanguage":["English"],"jobTitle":"Content Creator","worksFor":"Magoosh","url":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/author\/mikemcgarry\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":13209,"user_id":26,"is_guest":0,"slug":"mikemcgarry","display_name":"Mike M\u1d9cGarry","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/6b06de81592cd77bb46aa560cc59aee179cba4d042835c3529221ea1b344cce0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","user_url":"","last_name":"M\u1d9cGarry","first_name":"Mike","description":"Mike served as a GMAT Expert at Magoosh, helping create hundreds of lesson videos and practice questions to help guide GMAT students to success. He was also featured as \"member of the month\" for over two years at <a href=\"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/2012\/09\/mike-mcgarrys-gmat-experience\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GMAT Club<\/a>. Mike holds an A.B. in Physics (graduating <em>magna cum laude<\/em>) and an M.T.S. in Religions of the World, both from Harvard. Beyond standardized testing, Mike has over 20 years of both private and public high school teaching experience specializing in math and physics. In his free time, Mike likes smashing foosballs into orbit, and despite having no obvious cranial deficiency, he insists on rooting for the NY Mets. Learn more about the GMAT through Mike's <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/c\/MagooshGMATChannel\/featured\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Youtube <\/a>video explanations and resources like <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/whats-a-good-gmat-score\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">What is a Good GMAT Score?<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/gmat-diagnostic-test\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">GMAT Diagnostic Test<\/a>."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3579"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3579\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3579"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/magoosh.com\/gmat\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=3579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}