This GED math formula sheet guide walks through every formula on the sheet with worked examples — so you know which formula fits each question type before test day. The GED Mathematical Reasoning test provides the formula sheet on-screen, but knowing what is on it and how to use it is what separates prepared test-takers from those who scan it in a panic.

According to GED Testing Service 2023 data, math had the lowest pass rate at 75% — compared to 88% for science. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that millions of adults in the US lack a high school credential — the GED math section is often the final hurdle. That gap shows why memorizing random steps without understanding the formulas is risky.

With proper mastery of GED math formulas, you start seeing what each question is asking and which formula fits. Use the free PDF download below, study every worked example in this guide, and go into test day knowing exactly what the sheet includes.

Quick Facts About the GED Formula Sheet

The GED formula sheet appears during the Mathematical Reasoning test. You access it through an on-screen button, so you do not need to bring your own copy.

• Covers area, surface area, volume, algebra, Pythagorean theorem, quadratic formula, and interest formulas

• Does not cover basic arithmetic, percent conversions, PEMDAS, or basic geometry rules — you must know those

• There is no separate GED Science formula sheet — see the FAQ below

• The current sheet has been in use since the 2014 GED test redesign — it has not changed

The sheet appears as a clickable reference button on your test screen. You can open and close it at any time during the calculator-allowed portion of the exam. Your job is not to memorize these formulas — your job is to know which formula matches each problem type and how to plug the correct values in correctly.

Download: GED Math Formula Sheet PDF 2026

Download the free GED math formula sheet and keep the key formulas in front of you while you study. The official GED Testing Service formula sheet is available at ged.com. Print it and keep it beside you during your math study sessions so you're not encountering it for the first time during the test.

If you searched for a GED science formula sheet PDF, note that GED Science does not have a separate formula sheet. This download is for the Mathematical Reasoning test only.

When you study with the formula sheet in hand, you train yourself to recognize which formula belongs to each problem. That habit is what saves time on test day. Instead of staring at a question about a cone or a trapezoid and trying to reconstruct the formula from memory, you open the sheet, find the formula, copy it onto your scratch paper, and solve. Print this PDF and keep it visible during every math practice session.

Every Formula on the Sheet, Explained with Worked Examples

The GED formula sheet gives you the formulas, but the test still expects you to know which one fits the question. Use this section to understand each formula, place the right numbers into it, and work through the steps. See our full guide on what math is on the GED for a complete topic breakdown beyond just formulas.

Area Formulas

Square: A = s²

Use this when all four sides are equal. Example: A square sign has sides of 8.5 inches. What is the area?

A = s²
A = 8.5²
A = 8.5 × 8.5
A = 72.25 square inches

Rectangle: A = lw

Use this when you know the length and width. Example: A garden is 18.4 feet long and 9.5 feet wide. What is the area?

A = lw
A = 18.4 × 9.5
A = 174.8 square feet

Triangle: A = ½bh

Use this when you know the base and the height. The height must be the straight vertical height, not the slanted side. Example: A triangular roof section has a base of 14 feet and a height of 9.6 feet.

A = ½bh
A = ½ × 14 × 9.6
A = 7 × 9.6
A = 67.2 square feet

Parallelogram: A = bh

Use this for a slanted four-sided shape. Use the base and the vertical height — not the slanted side. Example: A parallelogram tile has a base of 11.5 inches and a height of 7.2 inches.

A = bh
A = 11.5 × 7.2
A = 82.8 square inches

Trapezoid: A = ½(b₁ + b₂)h

Use this when the shape has two parallel bases of different lengths. Example: A tabletop has a shorter base of 6.5 ft, a longer base of 10.5 ft, and a height of 4 ft.

A = ½(b₁ + b₂)h
A = ½(6.5 + 10.5)4
A = ½(17)4
A = 8.5 × 4
A = 34 square feet

Surface Area and Volume

Rectangular Prism: V = lwh

Use this for boxes, storage containers, and rooms. Example: A storage bin is 2.5 ft long, 1.8 ft wide, and 3 ft tall.

V = lwh
V = 2.5 × 1.8 × 3
V = 13.5 cubic feet

Cylinder: V = πr²h

Use this for cans, tanks, and round columns. Example: A water tank has a radius of 4 ft and a height of 7.5 ft. Use 3.14 for π.

V = πr²h
V = 3.14 × 4² × 7.5
V = 3.14 × 16 × 7.5
V = 376.8 cubic feet

Pyramid: V = ⅓Bh

Use this when you know the base area and the height. Example: A pyramid has a square base with sides of 9 inches and a height of 12 inches.

Step 1 — find the base area:
B = s² = 9² = 81 square inches

Step 2 — find the volume:
V = ⅓Bh
V = ⅓ × 81 × 12
V = 324 cubic inches

Cone: V = ⅓πr²h

Use this for cone-shaped objects. Example: A cone has a radius of 3.5 cm and a height of 10 cm. Use 3.14 for π.

V = ⅓πr²h
V = ⅓ × 3.14 × 3.5² × 10
V = ⅓ × 3.14 × 12.25 × 10
V ≈ 128.22 cubic centimeters

Sphere: V = ⁴⁄₃πr³

Use this for ball-shaped objects. Example: A ball has a radius of 4.2 inches. Use 3.14 for π.

V = ⁴⁄₃πr³
V = ⁴⁄₃ × 3.14 × 4.2³
V = ⁴⁄₃ × 3.14 × 74.088
V ≈ 310.18 cubic inches

Algebra Formulas

Slope: m = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁)

Use this to find how steep a line is between two points. Example: Find the slope between (−2, 5) and (4, −7).

m = (y₂ − y₁) ÷ (x₂ − x₁)
m = (−7 − 5) ÷ (4 − (−2))
m = −12 ÷ 6
m = −2

Slope-Intercept Form: y = mx + b

Use this when you know the slope and the y-intercept. Example: A line has a slope of −3 and crosses the y-axis at 8. Write the equation.

y = mx + b → y = −3x + 8

Point-Slope Form: y − y₁ = m(x − x₁)

Use this when you know one point and the slope. Example: A line has slope 2 and passes through (5, −1).

y − (−1) = 2(x − 5) → y + 1 = 2(x − 5)

Distance Formula: d = √[(x₂ − x₁)² + (y₂ − y₁)²]

Use this to find the distance between two points on a coordinate plane. Example: Find the distance between (−3, 2) and (5, −4).

d = √[(5−(−3))² + (−4−2)²]
d = √[64 + 36]
d = √100 = 10 units

Pythagorean Theorem: a² + b² = c²

Use this only with right triangles. c is always the hypotenuse (the side opposite the right angle). Example: A ladder leans against a wall. The base is 5 ft from the wall, and the ladder reaches 12 ft up. How long is the ladder?

a² + b² = c²
5² + 12² = c²
25 + 144 = c²
√169 = c = 13 feet

Quadratic Formula: x = (−b ± √(b² − 4ac)) ÷ 2a

Use this to solve equations in the form ax² + bx + c = 0. Example: Solve 2x² − 7x − 4 = 0. Here a = 2, b = −7, c = −4.

x = (−(−7) ± √((−7)² − 4(2)(−4))) ÷ 2(2)
x = (7 ± √(49 + 32)) ÷ 4
x = (7 ± √81) ÷ 4
x = (7 ± 9) ÷ 4
x = 4 or x = −0.5

Financial Formulas

Simple Interest: I = Prt

Use this when interest is based only on the original principal amount. Example: You borrow $850 at 7% simple interest for 18 months. How much interest will you pay?

Convert 18 months to years: 18 ÷ 12 = 1.5 years
I = Prt
I = 850 × 0.07 × 1.5
I = $89.25

Compound Interest: A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)

Use this when interest is added to the principal more than once. Example: You deposit $1,200 at 5% interest, compounded quarterly, for 3 years.

P = 1200, r = 0.05, n = 4, t = 3
A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt)
A = 1200(1 + 0.05/4)^(4×3)
A = 1200(1.0125)^12
A ≈ $1,392.91

What's NOT on the Formula Sheet — Memorize These

The GED math formula sheet is helpful, but it is not a full cheat sheet. Even if you practice with the formula sheet open during your prep, you still need to know the basic rules the test expects you to apply without any reference material.

• Order of operations (PEMDAS) — parentheses, exponents, multiplication/division, addition/subtraction. Not on the sheet.

• Fraction/decimal/percent conversions — know that ¼ = 0.25 = 25%, ½ = 0.5 = 50%, ¾ = 0.75 = 75%, and common fractions with 5ths and 8ths.

• Basic geometry rules — angle sums in triangles (180°), supplementary angles (180°), complementary angles (90°), and parallel line rules.

• Probability — favorable outcomes ÷ total possible outcomes.

• Factoring patterns — difference of squares (a² − b²) = (a+b)(a−b), and perfect square trinomials.

• Mean, median, and mode — these may appear on the test but are not defined on the formula sheet. Know how to calculate each one.

How to Use the Formula Sheet During the Test

The GED formula sheet is built into the Mathematical Reasoning test interface. You will open it through an on-screen tab or button — so practice using a digital formula sheet while you study, not just a printed version.

Do not waste time deriving a formula that is already listed. If a problem asks for the volume of a cone, the area of a trapezoid, or the slope between two points, open the sheet and copy the formula first.

Use the scratch paper provided during the test to write down the formula before solving any multi-step problem. This prevents you from mixing up numbers, skipping parentheses, or using the wrong value for height, radius, or base.

The GED also provides the TI-30XS MultiView on-screen calculator for the calculator-allowed portion of math. Use the can you use a calculator on the GED guide to understand exactly which questions allow the calculator and how to avoid common calculator mistakes.

Your main job is the setup: read the question, choose the right formula, plug in the values carefully, then let the calculator handle the arithmetic.

Is There a GED Science Formula Sheet?

No — there is no standalone GED Science formula sheet like the one provided for GED Math. If you searched for a GED science formula sheet PDF, the Science test works differently.

GED Science gives you an on-screen calculator and may include reference information inside specific questions. Any needed chart, data table, unit detail, or formula clue is built into the item itself.

You should still know a few common science relationships. The main one is density: D = m/V, where density equals mass divided by volume. For a full prep plan, see the GED Science prep guide.

If the formula sheet feels overwhelming, the best next step is understanding how hard the GED really is — most test-takers find math the hardest section, but it is also the most improvable with the right prep.