ParaPro Math Formulas

ParaPro Math Formulas

TL;DR: Walking into the ParaPro Math subtest without a formula sheet feels rough until you realize the formulas you need actually fit on one page. The full test gives you 150 minutes for 90 questions, including 30 math questions across arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and data analysis, and no reference panel to lean on. This cheat sheet collects every formula worth committing to memory before test day, so you can spend your time solving instead of trying to remember what the area of a trapezoid even looks like.

Quick answer: ParaPro math is 30 of the test’s 90 questions, covering number sense and basic algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis. You cannot bring a calculator, so memorize: percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100, rectangle area = l × w, triangle area = ½bh, and mean = sum ÷ count. Example: the mean of 4, 7 and 10 is 21 ÷ 3 = 7.

Want to memorize these formulas? Drill them with our free ParaPro Math Flashcards, flip each card, mark “Know it,” and restudy just the ones you missed.

Key takeaways:

  • ParaPro Math has 30 questions; the full test runs 2.5 hours across three subtests.
  • No formula sheet is provided. You need to memorize every formula on this page.
  • Calculator: no personal calculator allowed; testing centers may provide one.
  • Most-tested: fractions and decimals, ratios and percents, geometry basics, and reading data.
  • Passing scores are set by each state or district, so check your state’s requirements on the ETS ParaPro site.

First and foremost, you should understand that there are numerous mathematical concepts and formulas that you need to learn to succeed on the ParaPro math test.

To make your job easier, we have prepared a comprehensive collection of all the Math formulas you need to learn before the test day, as well as some explanations for how to use them and what they mean. Keep this list around for a quick reminder.

Review them all, then take a look at the math topics to begin applying them!

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b}=\frac{a+c}{b}\)
\(\frac{a}{b}-\frac{c}{b}=\frac{a-c}{b}\)
Adding and Subtracting with the different denominators:
\(\frac{a}{b}+\frac{c}{d}=\frac{ad+cb}{bd}\)
\(\frac{a}{b}-\frac{c}{d}=\frac{ad-cb}{bd}\)
Multiplying and Dividing Fractions:
\(\frac{a}{b} × \frac{c}{d}=\frac{a×c}{b×d}\)
\(\frac{a}{b} ÷ \frac{c}{d}=\frac{\frac{a}{b}}{\frac{c}{d}}=\frac{ad}{bc}\)

Comparing Numbers Signs

Equal to \(=\)
Less than \( <\)
Greater than \(>\)
Greater than or equal \(≥\)
Less than or equal \(≤\)

Rounding

Putting a number up or down to the nearest whole number or the nearest hundred, etc. 
Example: \(64\) rounded to the nearest ten is \(60\) because \(64\) is closer to \(60\) than to \(70\).

Whole Number

The numbers \( \{0,1,2,3,…\} \)

Estimates

Find a number close to the exact answer.

Decimals

Is a fraction written in a special form? For example, instead of writing \(\frac{1}{2}\) you can write \(0.5\).

Mixed Numbers

A number is composed of a whole number and a fraction. Example: \(2 \frac{2}{ 3}\) Converting between improper fractions and mixed numbers: \(a \frac{c}{b}=a+\frac{c}{b}= \frac{ab+ c}{b}\)

Factoring Numbers

Factoring a number means breaking it up into numbers that can be multiplied together to get the original number. Example:\(12=2×2×3\)

Divisibility Rules

Divisibility means that you can divide a number evenly. Example: \(24\) is divisible by \(6\) because \(24÷6=4\)

Greatest Common Factor

Multiply common prime factors
Example:\( 200=2×2×2×5×5 60=2×2×3×5\)
\(GCF\) \((200,60)=2×2×5=20\)

Least Common Multiple

Check multiples of the largest number
Example: LCM (200, 60): 200 (no), 400 (no), 600 (yes!)

Integers

\( \{…,-3,-2,-1,0,1,2,3,…\} \)
Includes: zero, counting numbers, and the negative of the counting numbers

Real Numbers

All numbers that are on a number line. Integers plus fractions, decimals, and irrationals, etc.) (\(\sqrt{2},\sqrt{3},π\), etc.)

Order of Operations

PEMDAS
(parentheses/ exponents/ multiply/ divide/ add/ subtract)

Absolute Value

Refers to the distance of a number from, the distances are positive as the absolute value of a number cannot be negative. \(|-22|=22\)
or (|x| = x for x ≥ 0, and |x| = −x for x < 0)
\(|x|<n⇒-n<x<n\)
\(|x|>n⇒x<-n or x>n\)

Ratios

A ratio is a comparison of two numbers by division.
Example: \(3: 5\), or \(\frac{3}{5}\)

Percentages

Use the following formula to find part, whole, or percent
part \(=\frac{percent}{100}×whole\)

Proportional Ratios

A proportion means that two ratios are equal. It can be written in two ways:
\(\frac{a}{b}=\frac{c}{d}\), \(a: b = c: d  \)

Percent of Change

\(\frac{New \ Value \ – \ Old \ Value}{Old Value}×100\%\)

Markup

Markup \(=\) selling price \(-\) cost
Markup rate \(=\) markup divided by the cost

Discount

Multiply the regular price by the rate of discount
Selling price \(=\) original price \(-\) discount

Expressions and Variables

A variable is a letter that represents unspecified numbers. One may use a variable in the same manner as all other numbers: Addition: \(2+a\): \(2\) plus a
Subtraction: \(y-3\): \(y\) minus \(3\)
Division: \(\frac{4}{x}\): \(4\) divided by \(x\)
Multiplication: \(5a\): \(5\) times \(a\)

Tax

To find tax, multiply the tax rate by the taxable amount (income, property value, etc.)

Distributive Property

\(a(b+c)=ab+ac\)

Polynomial

\(P(x)=a_{0} x^n+ a_{1} x^{n-1}+\)⋯\(+a_{n-2} x^2+a_{n-1} x+an\)

Systems of Equations

Two or more equations working together.
example: \( \begin{cases}-2x+2y=4\\-2x+y=3\end{cases} \)

Equations

The values of the two mathematical expressions are equal.
\(ax+b=c\)

Functions

A function is a rule to go from one number \((x)\) to another number \((y)\), usually written \(y=f(x)\).For any given value of \(x\), there can only be one corresponding value y. If \(y=kx\) for some number \(k\) (example: \(f(x)= 0.5 x\)), then \(y\) is said to be directly proportional to \(x\). If \(y\)\(=\frac{k}{x }\) (example: f(x \(=\frac{5}{x}\)), then y is said to be inversely proportional to x. The graph of \(y=f(x )+k\) is the translation of the graph of \(y=f(x)\) by \((h,k)\) units in the plane. For example, \(y=f(x+3)\) shifts the graph of \(f(x)\) by \(3\) units to the left.

Inequalities

Compares two values that may not be equal
\(a≠b\) a not equal to b
\(a<b\) a less than b
\(a>b\) a greater than b
\(a≥b\) a greater than or equal b
\(a≤b\) a less than or equal b

Lines (Linear Functions)

Consider the line that goes through points \(A(x_{1},y_{1}) \) and \(B(x_{2},y_{2})\).

Distance from A to B:

\(\sqrt{(x_{1}-x_{2})^2+(y_{1}-y_{2})^2 }\)

Parallel and Perpendicular lines:

Have equal slopes. Perpendicular lines (i.e., those that make a \(90^° \) angle where they intersect) have negative reciprocal slopes: \(m_{1}\).\(m_{2}=-1\).
Parallel Lines (l \(\parallel\) m)

Mid-point of the segment AB:

M (\(\frac{x_{1}+x_{2}}{2}, \frac{y_{1}+y_{2}}{2}\))

Slope of the line:

\(\frac{y_{2}- y_{1}}{x_{2} – x_{1} }=\frac{rise}{run}\)

Point-slope form:

Given the slope m and a point \((x_{1},y_{1})\) on the line, the equation of the line is
\((y-y_{1})=m \ (x-x_{1})\).

Intersecting lines:

Opposite angles are equal. Also, each pair of angles along the same line adds to \(180^°\). In the figure above, \(a+b=180^°\).

Slope-intercept form:

Given the slope m and the y-intercept b, then the equation of the line is:
\(y=mx+b\).

Transversal: Parallel lines:

Eight angles are formed when a line crosses two parallel lines. The four big angles (a) are equal, and the four small angles (b) are equal.

Parabolas:

A parabola parallel to the y-axis is given by \(y=ax^2+bx+c\).
If \(a>0\), the parabola opens up.
If \(a<0\), the parabola opens down. The y-intercept is c, and the x-coordinate of the vertex is \(x=-\frac{b}{2a}\).

Factoring:

“FOIL”
\((x+a)(x+b)\)
\(=x^2+(b+a)x +ab\) “Difference of Squares”
\(a^2-b^2= (a+b)(a-b)\)
\(a^2+2ab+b^2=(a+b)(a+b) \)
\(a^2-2ab+b^2=(a-b)(a-b)\) “Reverse FOIL”
\(x^2+(b+a)x+ab=\) \((x+a)(x+b)\)

You can use Reverse FOIL to factor a polynomial by thinking about two numbers a and b which add to the number in front of the \(x\), and which multiply to give the constant. For example, to factor \(x^2+5x+6\), the numbers add to \(5\) and multiply to \(6\), i.e.: \(a=2\) and \(b=3\), so that \(x^2+5x+6=(x+2)(x+3)\). To solve a quadratic such as \(x^2+bx+c=0\), first factor the left side to get \((x+a)(x+b)=0\), then set each part in parentheses equal to zero. For example, \(x^2+4x+3= (x+3)(x+1)=0\) so that \(x=-3\) or \(x=-1\).
To solve two linear equations in \(x\) and \(y\): use the first equation to substitute for a variable in the second. E.g., suppose \(x+y=3\) and \(4x-y=2\). The first equation gives \(y=3-x\), so the second equation becomes \(4x-(3-x)=2 ⇒ 5x-3=2\) \(⇒ x=1,y=2\).

Exponents:

Refers to the number of times a number is multiplied by itself.
\(8 = 2 × 2 × 2 = 2^3\)

Scientific Notation:

It is a way of expressing numbers that are too big or too small to be conveniently written in decimal form.
In scientific notation, all numbers are written in this form: \(m \times 10^n\)
Decimal notation:
\(5\)
\(-25,000\)
\(0.5\)
\(2,122.456\)
Scientific notation:
\(5×10^0\)
\(-2.5×10^4\)
\(5×10^{-1}\)
\(2.122456×10^3\)

Square:

The number we get after multiplying a number by itself. Example: \(2×2=4,2^2=4\)

Square Roots:

A square root of \(x\) is a number \(r\) whose square is \(x: r^2=x\)
\(r\) is a square root of \(x\)

Pythagorean Theorem:

\(a^2+b^2=c^2\)

Triangles

Area: \(A=\frac{1}{2}bh\) where \(b\) is the base and \(h\) is the height.
Perimeter: \(P=a+b+c\) (sum of all three sides).
Pythagorean Theorem (right triangles): \(a^2+b^2=c^2\) where \(c\) is the hypotenuse.
Sum of interior angles: \(180°\)

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Right triangles:

A good example of a right triangle is one with \(a=3\), \(b=4\), and \(c=5\) also called a \( 3-4-5\) right triangle. Note that multiples of these numbers are also right triangles. For example, if you multiply these numbers by \(2\), you get \(a=6\), \(b=8\) and
\(c=10(6-8-10)\), which is also a right triangle.

Yu

All triangles:

Area \(=\frac{1}{2}\) b. H
Angles on the inside of any triangle add up to \(180^\circ\).
The length of one side of any triangle is always less than the sum and more than the difference between the lengths of the other two sides.
An exterior angle of any triangle is equal to the sum of the two remote interior angles. Other important triangles:

Equilateral:

These triangles have three equal sides, and all three angles are \(60^\circ\).

Isosceles:

An isosceles triangle has two equal sides. The “base” angles (the ones opposite the two sides) are equal (see the \(45^\circ\) triangle above).

Similar:

Two or more triangles are similar if they have the same shape. The corresponding angles are equal, and the corresponding sides are in proportion. For example, the (3-4-5) triangle and the \(6-8-10\) triangle from before are similar since their sides are in a ratio of 1 to 2.

Circles

Circ 1

Area \(=πr^2\)
Circumference \(=2πr\)
Full circle \(=360^\circ\)

Rectangles

H 2

(Square if l=w)
Area=lw

Jk

Parallelogram

(Rhombus if l=w)
Area=lh
Regular polygons are n-sided figures with all sides equal and all angles equal.
The sum of the inside angles of an n-sided regular polygon is
\((n-2).180^\circ\).

Area of a parallelogram:

 \(A = bh\)

Area of a trapezoid:

\(A =\frac{1}{2} h (b_{1}+b_{2})\)

Surface Area and Volume of a Rectangular/right prism:

\(SA=ph+2B\)
\(V=Bh\)

Surface Area and Volume of a Cylinder:

\(SA =2πrh+2πr^2\)
\(V =πr^2 h  \)

Surface Area and Volume of a Pyramid

\(SA=\frac{1}{2} \ ps+B\)
\(V=\frac{1}{3}\ bh\)

Surface Area and Volume of a Cone

\(SA =πrs+πr^2\)
\(V=\frac{1}{3} \ πr^2 \ h\)

Surface Area and Volume of a Sphere

\(SA =4πr^2\)
\(V =\frac{4}{3} \ πr^3\)
(p \(=\) perimeter of base B; \(π ~ 3.14 \))

Solids

Cube

Rectangular Solid
Volume =lwh
Area =2(lw+wh+lh)

Cylinder

Right Cylinder
Volume \(=πr^2 \ h\)
Area \(=2πr(r+h)\)

Quadratic formula:

\( x=\frac{-b±\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}\)

Simple interest:

\(I=prt\)
(I = interest, p = principal, r = rate, t = time)

mean:

mean: \(\frac{sum \ of \ the \ data}{of \ data \ entires}\)

mode:

value in the list that appears most often

range:

largest value \(-\) smallest value

Median

The middle value in the list (which must be sorted)
Example: median of
\( \{3,10,9,27,50\} = 10\)
Example: median of
\( \{3,9,10,27\}=\frac{(9+10)}{2}=9.5 \)

Sum

average × (number of terms)

Average

\( \frac{sum \ of \ terms}{number \ of \ terms}\)

Average speed

\(\frac{total \ distance}{total \ time}\)

Probability

\(\frac{number \ of \ desired \ outcomes}{number \ of \ total \ outcomes}\)
The probability of two different events, A and,B both happening is:
P(A and B)=p(A).p(B)
as long as the events are independent.

Powers, Exponents, Roots

\(x^a.x^b=x^{a+b}\)
\(\frac{x^a}{x^b} = x^{a-b}\)
\(\frac{1}{x^b }= x^{-b}\)
\((x^a)^b=x^{a.b}\)
\((xy)^a= x^a.y^a\)
\(x^0=1\)
\(\sqrt{xy}=\sqrt{x}.\sqrt{y}\)
\((-1)^n=-1\), if n is odd.
\((-1)^n=+1\), if n is even.
If \(0<x<1\), then
(0 < x³ < x² < x < √x < ∛x < 1).

Interest

Simple Interest: \(I=Prt\)
where \(P\) = principal, \(r\) = annual interest rate (as a decimal), \(t\) = time in years.
Total amount: \(A=P+I=P(1+rt)\)
Compound Interest: \(A=P(1+\frac{r}{n})^{nt}\) where \(n\) is the number of times interest is compounded per year.

Simple Interest

The charge for borrowing money or the return for lending it.
Interest = principal \(×\) rate \(×\) time
OR
\(I=prt\)

Compound Interest

Interest is computed on the accumulated unpaid interest as well as on the original principal.
A \(=P(1+r)^t\)
An amount at ethe nd of the time
P principal (starting amount)
r interest rate (change to a decimal i.e. \(50\%=0.50\))
t= number of years invested

Powers/ Exponents

\(x^a×x^b=x^{a+b}\)
\(\frac{x^a}{x^b}=x^{a-b}\)
\((x^a)^b=x^{ab}\)
\(x^0=1\)
\(x^{-a}=\frac{1}{x^a}\)
\(x^{\frac{1}{n}}=\sqrt[n]{x}\)

Positive Exponents

An exponent is simply shorthand for multiplying that number of identical factors. So \(4^3\) is the same as \((4)(4)(4)\), three identical factors of \(4\). And \(x^3\) is just three factors of \(x\), \((x)(x)(x)\).

Negative Exponents

A negative exponent means to divide by that number of factors instead of multiplying.
So \(4^{-3}\) is the same as \( \frac{1}{4^3}\) and
\(x^{-3}=\frac{1}{x^3}\)

Factorials

Factorial- the product of a number and all counting numbers below it.
\(8\) factorial \(=8!=\)
\(8×7×6×5×4×3×2×1=40,320\)
\(5\) factorial \(=5!=\)
\(5×4×3×2×1=120\)
\(2\) factorial \(=2!=2× 1=2\)

Multiplying Two Powers of the SAME Base

When the bases are the same, you find the new power by just adding the exponents
\(x^a.x^b=x^{a+b }\)

Powers of Powers

For the power of power: you multiply the exponents.
\((x^a)^b=x^{(ab)}\)

Dividing Powers

\(\frac{x^a}{x^b} =x^a x^{-b}= x^{a-b}\)

The Zero Exponent

Anything to the \(0\) power is \(1\).
\(x^0= 1\)

Permutation: 

When different orderings of the same items are counted separately, we have a permutation problem:
\(_{n}P_{r}=\frac{n!}{(n-r)!}\)

Combination:

The fundamental counting principle, as demonstrated above, is used any time the order of the outcomes is important. When selecting objects from a group where the order is NOT important, we use the formula for COMBINATIONS:
The fundamental counting principle, as demonstrated above, is used any time the order of the outcomes is important. When selecting objects from a group where the order is NOT important, we use the formula for COMBINATIONS:
\(_{n}C_{r}=\frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}\)

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Recommended EffortlessMath Books

For a full workbook that builds on every formula here, the ParaPro Math for Beginners (resource currently unavailable) walks through each topic with worked examples. For complete certification prep with multiple practice tests, see the ParaPro Math Test Prep Bundle.

Quick practice with the formulas

Try these before you check the answers. Each one uses a formula from this page.

  1. What is 15% of 80?
  2. A shirt drops from $25 to $20. What is the percent change?
  3. A triangle has a base of 10 cm and a height of 6 cm. What is its area?
  4. A box is 4 in long, 3 in wide and 5 in tall. What is its volume?
  5. What is the median of 3, 9, 4, 7 and 12?

Answers:

  1. 0.15 × 80 = 12.
  2. (20 − 25) ÷ 25 × 100 = −20%, so a 20% decrease.
  3. ½ × 10 × 6 = 30 cm².
  4. 4 × 3 × 5 = 60 in³.
  5. Put them in order: 3, 4, 7, 9, 12. The middle value is 7.

If you missed one, go back to that formula, read its example again, and try a similar problem the next day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the ParaPro test?

The ParaPro Assessment has 90 selected-response questions: 30 in reading, 30 in writing and 30 in math. About two-thirds test basic skills and knowledge, and about one-third ask you to apply them in a classroom setting, such as spotting a student’s mistake in a fraction problem. The math questions cover number sense, basic algebra, geometry, measurement and data analysis.

How long is the paraprofessional test?

You get 150 minutes, or 2.5 hours, for all 90 ParaPro questions. That works out to about 1 minute 40 seconds per question, so there is time to work math problems on scratch paper. A good habit is to finish a first pass, mark tough items, and leave 10 to 15 minutes at the end to return to them.

Is the ParaPro test hard?

Most test takers find the ParaPro manageable because the math stays at a middle-school level: fractions, decimals, percents, simple equations, area and reading graphs. What makes it feel hard is having no formula sheet and no personal calculator after years away from math. Reviewing a short list of formulas, such as triangle area = ½ × base × height, and doing timed practice usually closes that gap.

How do you calculate a ParaPro score?

You do not calculate it yourself. ETS counts your correct answers, with no penalty for wrong ones, and converts that raw score to a scaled score. There is no single national passing score: each state or school district sets its own qualifying score. Because guessing costs nothing, answer every math question, even if you can only rule out one choice.

How do you convert 1/4 to a decimal without using a calculator?

Divide the numerator by the denominator: 1 ÷ 4 = 0.25. A quick mental shortcut is to make the denominator 100, since 1/4 = 25/100 = 0.25, which is also 25%. The same trick works for other ParaPro-style fractions: 3/5 = 60/100 = 0.6, and 7/20 = 35/100 = 0.35.

How do you convert an improper fraction into a mixed number?

Divide the numerator by the denominator. The quotient is the whole number, the remainder becomes the new numerator, and the denominator stays the same. For 17/5, 17 ÷ 5 = 3 remainder 2, so 17/5 = 3 2/5. To check, multiply back: 3 × 5 + 2 = 17. ParaPro questions often hide this step inside measurement problems.

Related EffortlessMath Lessons

If a topic on this page feels rusty, these short lessons go deeper:

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