The Ultimate ParaPro Math Formula Cheat Sheet

The Ultimate ParaPro Math Formula Cheat Sheet

TL;DR: Use this ParaPro Math formula cheat sheet for the 30-question math section. You get an on-screen four-function calculator, no paper formula sheet, and a 420-480 scaled-score target. Memorize fractions, percents, area and perimeter, and basic algebra rules so you can move quickly.

Quick answer: The ParaPro math section tests number sense, basic algebra, geometry, measurement and data. The formulas to know cold are: rectangle area = l × w, triangle area = ½ × b × h, circle area = πr², circumference = 2πr, percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100, mean = sum ÷ count, slope = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁), and a² + b² = c².

Key takeaways:

  • ParaPro Math has 30 questions; you get the on-screen four-function calculator.
  • No paper formula sheet is provided, so you’ll want these formulas memorized.
  • Scaled scores run 420-480; qualifying scores are set by each state or district.
  • Focus your prep on fractions, percents, ratios, basic algebra, perimeter and area.
  • About 30% of the test is word problems, so translation skills matter as much as arithmetic.

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:\(12=2×2×3\)

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

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

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

Distributive Property

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

Equations

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

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
\((y-y_{1})=m \ (x-x_{1})\).

Slope-intercept form:

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

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 an integer (not a fraction) 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: \(180°\)

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).

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 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 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; \(π ~ 3.14 \))

Original price was: $109.99.Current price is: $54.99.

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

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

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).

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 power of a 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.
\(x^0= 1\)

More from Effortless Math for ParaPro Test …

Can’t find the free ParaPro math test sample practice questions?

We give you the good news that you do not need to search any further!: ParaPro Math FREE Sample Practice Questions

Have not memorized ParaPro math test formulas and are now worried?

We understand your concerns and have come up with a solution: The Ultimate ParaPro Math Formula Cheat Sheet

Do you not know how to interpret the ParaPro test scores, and this has bothered you?

We know the solution to this problem: How is the ParaPro Test Scored?

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Need more practice? ParaPro Math for Beginners 2026 covers ParaPro math step by step, with practice problems and answers. Look inside · $17.99

Recommended EffortlessMath Books

For a structured workbook to pair with this cheat sheet, the ParaPro Math for Beginners (resource currently unavailable) walks through every test topic with worked examples at the right level. For full timed practice before test day, see the ParaPro Math Test Prep Bundle.

Practice Using the Key Formulas

Knowing a formula is half the job. Here is each core formula used once, the way it might appear on the test.

  • Circle area: A circle has a radius of 3 cm. A = πr² = π × 9 ≈ 28.27 cm².
  • Percent change: A price goes from $40 to $50. (50 − 40) ÷ 40 × 100 = 25% increase.
  • Mean: Scores of 4, 7, 9 and 12. Sum = 32, count = 4, mean = 32 ÷ 4 = 8.
  • Pythagorean theorem: A right triangle has legs 6 and 8. c² = 36 + 64 = 100, so c = 10.
  • Slope: Points (1, 2) and (3, 8). Slope = (8 − 2) ÷ (3 − 1) = 6 ÷ 2 = 3.
  • Rectangle perimeter: A room is 12 ft by 9 ft. P = 2(12) + 2(9) = 42 ft.

When you practice, write the formula first, then plug in the numbers. This habit catches mistakes like using the diameter where the radius belongs.

ParaPro or ParaPathways: Which Test Do You Need?

ETS now offers two routes for paraprofessional testing. The ParaPro Assessment is one test covering reading, writing and math. The ParaPathways option splits this into a Reading and Writing test (5758) and a separate Mathematics test (5759).

Which one you take depends on your state or school district. ETS publishes the accepted test and qualifying score for each state on its State Requirements page. Some states accept only ParaPathways. For example, Rhode Island approves only ParaPathways as of March 1, 2026.

The math content is similar either way, so the formulas on this sheet help with both. Check your state’s requirement before you register.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ParaPro Assessment?

The ParaPro Assessment is an ETS test that many states and school districts use to qualify paraprofessionals, also called teacher aides. It has three sections, reading, writing and math, with 30 questions each, and scores are reported on a 420 to 480 scale. Each state or district sets its own qualifying score, so check with the district where you plan to work.

Is there any math on the ParaPro test?

Yes. One-third of the ParaPro, 30 questions, is math. It covers number sense and basic algebra, geometry and measurement, and data analysis at about a middle school level. Some questions ask how you would help a student, such as spotting why a child wrote 1/2 + 1/3 = 2/5 instead of the correct 5/6.

What formulas should be on a ParaPro math cheat sheet?

Keep it to the formulas that come up most: rectangle area = l × w, triangle area = ½ × b × h, circle area = πr², circumference = 2πr, percent change = (new − old) ÷ old × 100, mean = sum ÷ count, slope = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁) and a² + b² = c². For example, a 10 by 4 rectangle has area 40 and perimeter 28.

Is there a free ParaPro practice test with answers?

ETS offers a free ParaPro study companion with sample math questions and explained answers, which is the best starting point because it matches the real test. Use it to find your weak areas, then drill those topics. For example, if percent questions slow you down, practice quick ones like 15% of 60 = 6 + 3 = 9 until they feel automatic.

What is ParaPathways?

ParaPathways is a newer ETS option for paraprofessional testing. Instead of one combined ParaPro test, it splits the content into a Reading and Writing test and a separate Mathematics test. Some states and districts accept only one of these options, so confirm which test your district requires before you register. The math content is similar basic-skills material either way.

What does a paraprofessional do at a school?

A paraprofessional works under a teacher’s direction to support students, often in small groups or one on one. Typical tasks include helping with reading and math practice, supporting students with special needs, and managing classroom routines. That is why the ParaPro math section includes questions about explaining a skill, like showing a student why 0.5 and 1/2 are equal.

Related EffortlessMath Lessons

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

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