YOUR SHSAT Math STUDY COMPANION
The Ultimate SHSAT Math Formula Cheat Sheet
TL;DR: The SHSAT does not provide a formula sheet, and the math section moves fast. This cheat sheet has every formula you need, grouped by topic for quick review.

Quick answer: The SHSAT math section covers arithmetic, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics. The formulas worth knowing cold are percent and percent change, ratios and proportions, slope and linear equations, area and perimeter of common shapes, the Pythagorean theorem, and mean, median and simple probability. Many SHSAT questions are multi-step word problems, so practice using each formula inside a problem, not just reciting it.
TL;DR: The SHSAT does not provide a formula sheet, and the math section moves fast. This cheat sheet has every formula you need, grouped by topic for quick review.
Key takeaways:
- The SHSAT math section has 57 questions and shares a 180-minute time limit with the ELA section.
- No calculators allowed on the SHSAT, every calculation must be done by hand.
- The test covers pre-algebra, algebra, geometry, and basic probability.
- Grid-in questions appear on the test alongside multiple-choice.
- SHSAT scores are scaled, with a composite roughly out of 700.
If you (or your child) are prepping for the SHSAT, you already know the stakes. This is the test that decides admission to New York City’s specialized high schools, and the Math half is where most students gain or lose their ground. The good news: the SHSAT Math content is finite. There’s a fixed set of formulas, and once you know them cold, your job becomes solving puzzles, not remembering rules.
This page is the working formula sheet I use with my SHSAT students. Everything below comes straight from the test’s actual content domain, nothing extra, nothing missing.
How to use it: skim it now to see how much you recognize. Anything that makes you pause, write down in a notebook. That short list, usually five to ten formulas, is your real homework. Practice those first; the rest will come back faster than you’d expect.
The SHSAT Math Formula Cheat Sheet
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 \(0\) on the number line. The distances are positive as the absolute value of a number cannot be negative. \(|-22|=22\)
or \(|x| =\begin{cases}x \ for \ x≥0 \\x \ for \ x < 0\end{cases} \)
\(|x|<n⇒-n<x<n\)
\(|x|>n⇒x<-n or x>n\)
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
Area \(=πr^2\)
Circumference \(=2πr\)
Full circle \(=360^\circ\)
Rectangles
(Square if l=w)
Area=lw
Need more practice? SHSAT Math for Beginners 2027 covers SHSAT math step by step, with practice problems and answers. Look inside · $17.99
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; \(π ~ 3.14 \))
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
\( \{3,9,10,27\}=\frac{(9+10)}{2}=9.5 \)
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 (not mutually exclusive).
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
\(0<x^3<x^2<x<\sqrt{x}<\sqrt{3x}<1\).
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 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.
\(x^0= 1\)
The Best Books to Ace the SHSAT Math Test
A Word About SHSAT Math Strategy
The SHSAT does not give you a formula sheet. That sounds tough, but here’s the upside: the formulas you need are the standard ones from 7th- and 8th-grade math. There’s no calculus, no trigonometry, nothing exotic. If your child has done well in school math, the SHSAT’s formula list will already feel familiar.
One thing I always tell students: the SHSAT Math is less about new content and more about how fast you can use what you already know. The Math section gives you 57 questions, and you share a 180-minute window with the ELA section, so the formulas above need to be instant-recall, not “let me think for a moment.”
Word problems are where most students lose points. The SHSAT loves to dress up basic algebra in a paragraph of text. The skill to practice isn’t a new formula. It’s translating a sentence into an equation quickly. Read, underline the numbers, write the equation, solve. That sequence, over and over.
Books That Go With This Cheat Sheet
For students who want a slow, careful walk through every concept on this cheat sheet, SHSAT Math for Beginners is my first recommendation. It’s written for the student who needs the formulas explained before they’re applied, not the student who already knows everything.
If you want a complete prep package, textbook, workbook, and full-length practice tests bundled together, the Comprehensive SHSAT Math Preparation Bundle covers the whole arc, from first formula to last practice test.
Frequently Asked Questions About SHSAT Math Formulas
Is there an SHSAT formula sheet?
No. The SHSAT does not give students a formula sheet or reference sheet, so every formula has to come from memory. The ones that show up most are the slope formula, the Pythagorean theorem, percent of change, triangle and rectangle area and perimeter, and the area of a circle, A = πr². Write the full list from memory once a week until it is automatic.
What math topics are on the SHSAT?
SHSAT math draws on middle school content: number sense, fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, exponents, solving equations and inequalities, geometry, and basic probability and statistics. The questions are harder than typical school problems because they often combine two ideas, such as a percent problem inside a geometry figure. There is no calculator, so practice arithmetic by hand.
What kind of geometry questions are on the SHSAT?
SHSAT geometry usually asks about angles, triangles, circles, area, perimeter, volume and the coordinate plane. Many problems hide a right triangle, so the Pythagorean theorem is key. For example, a rectangle with sides 9 and 12 has a diagonal of √(81 + 144) = √225 = 15. Sketch the figure and label every length you know before you calculate.
How is the SHSAT score calculated?
Your raw score in each section, the number of questions you answer correctly, is converted to a scaled score, and the ELA and math scaled scores are added for a composite. The conversion is not a simple percentage and is not published as a fixed chart, so an online SHSAT score calculator can only estimate. Admission depends on how your composite ranks and on your school choices.
How do you find the area of a triangle with 3 sides without the height?
Use Heron’s formula. First find the semi-perimeter s = (a + b + c)/2, then A = √(s(s − a)(s − b)(s − c)). For sides 13, 14 and 15, s = 21, so A = √(21 × 8 × 7 × 6) = √7056 = 84. On the SHSAT you can usually find the height instead, but Heron’s formula is a reliable backup.
How do you find the hypotenuse and perimeter of a right triangle?
Find the hypotenuse with the Pythagorean theorem, c = √(a² + b²), then add all three sides for the perimeter. With legs 6 and 8, c = √(36 + 64) = √100 = 10, so the perimeter is 6 + 8 + 10 = 24. Memorizing common triples like 3-4-5 and 5-12-13 saves time on a no-calculator test.
Related EffortlessMath Lessons
- How to find the slope of a line
- How to use the Pythagorean theorem
- Order of operations (PEMDAS)
- Area of a triangle
- Percent of change in word problems
A Quick Word-Problem Walkthrough
Here’s a translation in action. The SHSAT loves problems like this: “Tomas is twice as old as Anna. In six years, the sum of their ages will be 45. How old is each one today?”
Let \(A\) = Anna’s age today, so Tomas’s age is \(2A\). In six years, Anna will be \(A + 6\) and Tomas will be \(2A + 6\). The sum: \((A + 6) + (2A + 6) = 45\). Combine: \(3A + 12 = 45\). Solve: \(3A = 33\), \(A = 11\). So Anna is 11, Tomas is 22. Notice how every sentence in the problem turned into one piece of algebra. That’s the whole skill.
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