YOUR SHSAT Math STUDY COMPANION
SHSAT Math Formulas
TL;DR: A complete SHSAT Math formula reference for the NYC Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and probability formulas you need to memorize, since the SHSAT gives you no reference sheet on test day.

TL;DR: A complete SHSAT Math formula reference for the NYC Specialized High Schools Admissions Test, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, and probability formulas you need to memorize, since the SHSAT gives you no reference sheet on test day.
Quick answer: You do not get a formula sheet during the SHSAT, so this page is a reference to memorize before test day. Focus on percent change, ratios and proportions, slope, area and perimeter, the Pythagorean theorem, volume, mean and median, and basic probability. Example: a price goes from $40 to $50, so percent change = (50 − 40) ÷ 40 × 100 = 25%.
Key takeaways:
- The SHSAT provides no formula sheet, every formula has to come from your head.
- Math is 57 questions in 90 minutes, mixed with the ELA section’s 90-minute window.
- Most heavy lifting sits in algebra, ratios/percents, and coordinate geometry.
- Geometry covers area, volume, the Pythagorean theorem, and basic angle rules.
- Probability and counting questions show up but stay at the intro level.
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
Factor 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 are able to 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
Says that two values are not 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
Solving Systems of Equations by Elimination
Example: \(\cfrac{\begin{align} x+2y =6 \\ + \ \ -x+y=3 \end{align}}{}\)
\(\cfrac{ \begin{align} 3y=9 \\ y=3 \end{align} }{\begin{align} x+6=6 \\ ⇒ x=0 \end{align}} \)
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 add 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:
For any right triangle with legs \(a\) and \(b\) and hypotenuse \(c\): \(a^2+b^2=c^2\)
Solving for the hypotenuse: \(c=\sqrt{a^2+b^2}\)
Solving for a leg: \(a=\sqrt{c^2-b^2}\)
Common Pythagorean triples: \(3,4,5\); \(5,12,13\); \(8,15,17\); \(7,24,25\)
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: \(180°\)
Right triangles:
A right triangle has one \(90°\) angle. The two sides forming the right angle are the legs; the longest side (opposite the right angle) is the hypotenuse.
Pythagorean Theorem: \(a^2+b^2=c^2\)
Area: \(A=\frac{1}{2}\,a\,b\) (where \(a\) and \(b\) are the two legs)
The two non-right angles are complementary (they add to \(90°\)).
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).
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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

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

(Square if l=w)
Area=lw

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

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

Right Cylinder
Volume \(=πr^2 \ h\)
Area \(=2πr(r+h)\)
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
\(I=prt\)
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:
\(_{n}C_{r}=\frac{n!}{r!(n-r)!}\)
The Best Books to Ace the SHSAT Math Test
Recommended EffortlessMath Books
For a workbook that walks through every SHSAT topic, the SHSAT Math for Beginners (resource currently unavailable) covers each concept with worked examples and timed drills. For full prep with multiple practice tests, see the SHSAT Math Test Prep Bundle (resource currently unavailable).
How the SHSAT math section works now
The SHSAT moved from paper to a computer or tablet in fall 2025, and it becomes computer-adaptive starting with the fall 2026 test. That changes how you should study these formulas.
- One shared time window. Math and ELA share 180 minutes, and you decide how to split your time.
- No calculator. Every computation is by hand, so practice the arithmetic behind each formula, not just the formula.
- No going back. In the adaptive format, once you submit a math answer, it is locked. Recall has to be quick and sure the first time.
- Question types. Expect multiple choice, typed numeric answers and some technology-enhanced items.
Question counts have changed with the new format, so check the current NYC Public Schools SHSAT handbook for exact numbers.
Permutations and combinations, with examples
Use these when you count arrangements or groups.
- Permutations (order matters): nPr = n! ÷ (n − r)!
- Combinations (order does not matter): nCr = n! ÷ (r! × (n − r)!)
Example 1: In how many ways can 5 runners finish first and second? Order matters, so 5P2 = 5! ÷ 3! = 120 ÷ 6 = 20.
Example 2: How many 2-person teams can you pick from 5 students? Order does not matter, so 5C2 = 5! ÷ (2! × 3!) = 120 ÷ 12 = 10.
The combination count is smaller because each pair, like Ana and Ben, was counted twice in the permutation (Ana then Ben, and Ben then Ana).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an SHSAT formula sheet?
No. The SHSAT does not provide a formula sheet or reference sheet, so every formula has to come from memory. That includes area and volume formulas, the Pythagorean theorem and slope. Because there is also no calculator, practice using each formula with mental math, like finding the area of a circle with radius 6 as 36π.
What should be on an SHSAT cheat sheet?
A good SHSAT study sheet fits on one page and covers percent change, ratios and proportions, slope, area and perimeter, the Pythagorean theorem, volume, mean and median, and basic probability. Write it out yourself from memory, check it against a reference, and redo it weekly. Example to include: percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100, so $40 to $50 is 25%.
What math formulas do you need for the SHSAT?
The most-used ones are slope m = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁), y = mx + b, area of a triangle ½bh, area of a circle πr², circumference 2πr, volume of a rectangular prism lwh, a² + b² = c², mean = sum ÷ count, and probability = favorable outcomes ÷ total outcomes. For instance, rolling a 5 or 6 on a die has probability 2/6 = 1/3.
What geometry is on the SHSAT?
SHSAT geometry covers area and perimeter, circles, volume, the Pythagorean theorem, angle rules and coordinate geometry. Expect angle facts like a triangle’s angles adding to 180° and a straight line measuring 180°, plus right-triangle problems. A classic: a right triangle with legs 6 and 8 has a hypotenuse of √(36 + 64) = √100 = 10.
Related EffortlessMath Lessons
If a topic on this page feels rusty, these short lessons go deeper:
- How to use the Pythagorean theorem
- How to find the slope of a line
- Rules of exponents
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
- How to use the quadratic formula
Need more SHSAT Math practice?
Use the free SHSAT Math Worksheet Creator to make a fresh one-skill worksheet with answers and step-by-step explanations. It is a good next step after a lesson, a formula review, or a missed practice-test question.
Open the worksheet creatorOpen full page
For a complete study path: pair this printable practice with SHSAT Math for Beginners and SHSAT Math Preparation Bundle.
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