GRE Math Concepts and Formulas Every Test Taker Should Know

You’ve been studying for months preparing to ace the GRE exam, yet you can’t help but feel like you’re not ready. You’re worried that you’ll bomb the GRE Quantitative Reasoning section. Take a deep breath. You’re not alone. Thousands of people take the GRE every year, and most of them feel the same way you do. The key to doing well in the GRE math section is to be familiar with the most commonly tested concepts and formulas. Memorizing and practicing each math formula is essential for the GRE quantitative section, as it helps improve both speed and accuracy.

Mastering these formulas can significantly boost your overall quant score, increasing your chances of acceptance into competitive graduate programs. Being prepared with important GRE math formulas and effective strategies is crucial for performing your best on test day.

And that’s where we come in. We’re going to review the most important math concepts and formulas for GRE. This article will provide a comprehensive list of important GRE math formulas that are crucial for your success.

Understanding averages, including mean, median, and mode, is crucial for interpreting GRE data sets, as these statistical measures often appear alongside percentages and percent changes in data analysis questions.

Geometry questions assess the test taker’s understanding of shapes, angles, and spatial reasoning. Familiarize yourself with the properties of triangles, circles, quadrilaterals, right triangles, and other polygons. Important formulas to remember include:

1. Area Formula for a Triangle – Area = 1/2 * base * height. Understanding the area formula is significant because it helps you solve a variety of geometry problems, especially those involving triangles, by relating the base and height through multiplying.
2. Circumference of a Circle – Circumference = 2πr (where r is the radius)
3. Volume of a Cylinder – Volume = πr²h (where r is the radius and h is the height). Calculating area and volume often involves multiplying dimensions, such as length and width for rectangles or base area and height for cylinders.

Data Analysis questions in the GRE Math section involve interpreting and analyzing data presented in tables, charts, and graphs. Be comfortable with reading and interpreting different types of graphs, such as bar graphs, line graphs, and pie charts. Some key concepts to remember include mean, median, mode, standard deviation, probability and statistics.

In addition to the specific concepts and formulas mentioned above, there are a few general strategies and tips that can help you excel in the GRE Mathematics:

1. Regular practice is crucial to build your mathematical skills and familiarize yourself with the types of questions that appear on the GRE. For test takers, consistent practice helps improve speed and accuracy, which is essential for performing well on the exam. Solve a variety of practice questions, sample tests, and official GRE Math sections to gain confidence and improve your speed and accuracy.
2. Before jumping into solving a problem, take the time to carefully read and understand the question. Identify what is being asked and the information provided. This will help you avoid errors and select the appropriate approach to solve the problem.
3. Estimation can be a valuable tool in the GRE Math section, allowing you to quickly eliminate unrealistic answer choices and narrow down your options. Estimating can also help you verify the reasonableness of your calculated answers.
4. Time management is essential during the GRE Math section. Since the section is timed, practice solving questions within the time constraints. If you encounter a challenging question, consider skipping it temporarily and coming back to it later. Allocate your time strategically to ensure you have enough time to answer all the questions. Making fewer incorrect guesses can help maximize your quant score, so answer carefully and avoid rushing through questions. Remember, more incorrect guesses can negatively impact your quant score, so accuracy is key.
5. While preparing for the GRE Math section, it’s important to review fundamental mathematical concepts and formulas. This includes basic arithmetic operations, algebraic rules, geometry properties, and number properties. Having a strong foundation in math formulas will enable you to tackle complex problems with ease.
6. If you are unsure about the correct answer to a question, use the process of elimination. Cross out answer choices that you know are incorrect based on your calculations or reasoning. This increases your chances of selecting the correct answer even if you are unsure. Reducing the number of incorrect guesses will help improve your overall quant score.