GRE Math Formula Sheet
The formulas that show up most often in GRE Quantitative Reasoning. Print this page (or save it as PDF) and keep it beside you while you review.
Arithmetic & algebra
| Quadratic formula | x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / 2a |
| Exponents | xᵃ · xᵇ = xᵃ⁺ᵇ · (xᵃ)ᵇ = xᵃᵇ · x⁻ᵃ = 1/xᵃ |
| Percent change | (new − old) / old × 100 |
| Mean / median | Mean = sum ÷ n · Median = middle value when sorted |
| Permutations | Order matters: n! / (n − r)! |
| Combinations | Order does not matter: n! / (r!(n − r)!) |
| Speed | distance = speed × time |
| Work rate | combined rate = 1/t₁ + 1/t₂ |
Geometry
| Triangle area | ½ × base × height |
| Circle area / circumference | πr² / 2πr |
| Rectangle area / perimeter | l × w / 2(l + w) |
| Cylinder volume | πr²h |
| Slope | (y₂ − y₁) / (x₂ − x₁) |
| Pythagoras | a² + b² = c² (right triangles only) |
| Sum of angles | Triangle: 180° · Any polygon: (n − 2) × 180° |
Data & probability
| Probability | favorable outcomes / total outcomes |
| Standard deviation | A measure of spread; GRE tests concepts, not computation |
| Quartiles | Q1 = 25th, Q2 = median, Q3 = 75th percentile |