The Ultimate TSI Math Formula Cheat Sheet
TL;DR: The TSI test, officially the TSI Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2) since January 2021, places you into the right Texas college math course. It’s adaptive, untimed, and gives you a built-in calculator on some questions. This cheat sheet covers every formula you should know.
Quick answer: The TSIA2 math test gives you no formula sheet, so memorize the core formulas: slope m = (y₂ − y₁)/(x₂ − x₁), y = mx + b, the quadratic formula, exponent rules, a² + b² = c², circle area πr², rectangle and triangle area, volume of prisms and cylinders, percent change, mean and median, and simple probability. A College Readiness Classification score of 950 or higher means you are college ready in math, and so does Diagnostic Level 6 if you score below 950.
Want each formula explained, plus what is on the TSIA2 math test? Read the full TSI math formulas guide.
Key takeaways:
- TSIA2 Math starts with the Mathematics CRC (College Readiness Classification) test, scored from 910 to 990.
- 20 multiple-choice CRC questions, plus a 48-question diagnostic (12 questions in each content area) if your CRC score is below college-ready.
- Untimed, so you can work at your own pace.
- On-screen calculator provided for certain questions.
- College ready means a CRC score of 950 or higher, or a CRC score below 950 with Diagnostic Level 6.
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
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:
\(A =\frac{1}{2} h (b_{1}+b_{2})\)
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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 are:
P(A and B)=p(A).p(B)
as long as the events are independent, meaning one does not change the chance of the other. (For mutually exclusive events, P(A and B) = 0.)
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 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.
\(x^0= 1\)
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TSIA2 math test facts at a glance
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Main math test (CRC) | 20 multiple-choice questions in 4 content areas |
| Score range | 910 to 990 |
| College ready | 950 or higher, or below 950 with a diagnostic level of 6 |
| Diagnostic test | Given if you score below 950; 48 questions, 12 from each content area |
| Time | Untimed |
| Calculator | No handheld calculators. Some questions show an on-screen calculator. |
| Formula sheet | Not provided, so memorize this sheet |
| Retakes | Allowed; Texas sets no statewide limit, and each college sets its own retest rules, fees and any waiting period |
Quadratic formula (missing from most quick sheets)
For ax² + bx + c = 0, the solutions are x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) / (2a).
Example: x² − 5x + 6 = 0. Here a = 1, b = −5, c = 6. The discriminant is 25 − 24 = 1. So x = (5 ± 1) / 2, which gives x = 3 or x = 2. Check: 3² − 5(3) + 6 = 0 and 2² − 5(2) + 6 = 0.
If b² − 4ac is negative, there are no real solutions. If it is zero, there is one repeated solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a formula sheet on the TSI math test?
No. The TSIA2 math test does not give you a formula sheet, so you need to know the key formulas from memory. Focus on slope, y = mx + b, the quadratic formula, exponent rules, a² + b² = c², circle area πr², and volume of prisms and cylinders. Rewriting your cheat sheet from memory a few times is a quick way to learn it.
What is on the TSI math test?
The TSI math test covers four areas: quantitative reasoning (ratios, percents, number sense), algebraic reasoning (linear and quadratic equations, exponents, polynomials), geometric and spatial reasoning (area, volume, transformations), and probabilistic and statistical reasoning (mean, median, probability). The formulas on a TSI cheat sheet line up with these four areas.
How many questions are on the TSI math test?
The TSIA2 math College Readiness Classification test has 20 multiple-choice questions. If you score below 950, you also take a 48-question diagnostic test, with 12 questions in each content area, to help place you in the right course. The test is untimed, so take your time on each formula question.
Can you use a calculator on the TSI math test?
You cannot bring your own calculator to the TSI. The online test shows a built-in calculator only on certain questions, so the rest must be solved by hand. Practice the formulas on your cheat sheet without a calculator, such as finding the slope between (1, 2) and (4, 11): (11 − 2)/(4 − 1) = 9/3 = 3.
Is the TSI math test multiple choice?
Yes. The TSIA2 math questions are multiple choice, both on the 20-question placement test and on the diagnostic. That means you can check your work by plugging answer choices back into an equation. For example, if 2x + 3 = 11, testing x = 4 gives 2(4) + 3 = 11, which confirms the answer.
How do you pass the TSI math test?
You are college ready in math with a score of 950 or higher on the TSIA2 math test, which is scored from 910 to 990. If you score below 950, a diagnostic level of 6 also meets the standard. To get there, memorize the core formulas, practice the four content areas, and take a full practice test before your test date.
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