SAT Math Study Guide

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SAT Test Information 2

Use of Calculator 3
Linear Equations 9
Solving Equations 1​1

Solving Inequalities 1​1

Systems of Equations 1​2
Nonlinear Equations 1​4
Solving Quadratic Equations 1​5
Polynomials 1​7
Rational Functions 1​8
Radicals and Exponents 20
Sequences 21
Scientific Notation 2​2
Scatterplots 2​2
Linear vs Exponential Growth 2​3

Probability 2​3
Center and Distribution 2​4
Writing Formulas in Terms of Variable 2​5
Surface Area and Volume Word Problems 2​6
Angles 2​6
Trigonometry 2​7
Complex Numbers 2​8
Sources 2​9

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 SAT Test Information

Given Formulas

Math Test- No Calculator

○ 25 Minutes for 20 Questions
Math Test- Calculator
○ 55 Minutes for 38 Questions

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 Use of Calculator
Programming
Programming a graphing calculator can be an ​easy way to prepare for the test.​ It allows you to
more quickly solve easy problems. Here are a ​few programs​ you can create for your calculator:

*If you need any other programs you can download more off of the TI site.

1. Quadratic Formula

Step 1:​ Press the [PRGM] button and move over to the right
twice to Create New.

Step 2:​ Name the program Quad.

Step 3:​ Add ClrDraw to the program by going to [2ND]

[PRGM].

Step 4:​ Add Input by going to [PRGM] moving to the

Right by one and pressing Input.

Step 5:​ Type in “A=”. The equal sign can be found by

going to [2ND] [MATH] and pressing =.

Step 6:​ After typing “A=” add a comma and an A.

Step 7:​ Repeat Steps 4-6 twice more replacing A

with B and C as shown.

Step 8:​ Write the Quadratic formula as follows:

((-B+√(B²-4AC))/(2A))

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Step 9:​ Store that equation as P by pressing [STO➤].
Then write P.

Step 10:​ Repeat the process in Steps 9-10 instead writing

((-B-√(B²-4AC))/(2A)) and storing it as N.

Step 11:​ Add Disp by going to [PRGM] moving to the

Right by one and pressing Disp.

Step 12:​ Write “X=”, P.

Step 13:​ Add Disp and write “X=”, N.

Example:

x2 + x − 6

Plug in numbers for A, B, and C.

A=1
B=1
C=-6

After pressing Enter, you should get the following answer:

X=2
And X=-3

2. Distance Formula

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Step 1:​ Press the [PRGM] button and move over to the right twice to Create New.

Step 2:​ Name the Program Distance.

Step 3:​ Add 4 Inputs for X1, Y1, X2, and Y2 as shown in the
picture.

Step 4:​ Add the equation as follows:

√((A-X)²+(B-Y)²)

Step 5:​ Store the equation as D.

Step 6:​ Add the Disp and write “DIST=”, D.

Example:

Find the distance between the points (3,4) and (-2, 5).

Plug in the numbers for X1, Y1, X2, and Y2,

X1= 3
Y1= 4
X2= -2
Y2= 5

After pressing Enter, you should get the following answer:

DIST= 5.099019514

3. Slope Formula

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Step 1:​ Press the [PRGM] button and move over to the
right twice to Create New.

Step 2:​ Name the Program Slope.

Step 3:​ Add 4 Inputs for X1, Y1, X2, and Y2 as shown
in the picture.

Step 4:​ Add the equation as follows:

(A-X)/(B-Y)

Step 5:​ Store the equation as S.

Step 6:​ Add the Disp and write “SLOPE=”, S.

Example:

Find the slope of a line using the points (3,4) and (-2, 5).

Plug in the numbers for X1, Y1, X2, and Y2.

X1= 3
Y1= 4
X2= -2
Y2= 5

After pressing Enter, you should get the following answer:

SLOPE= -.2

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Basic Use of Calculator
1. How to Graph an Equation

Step 1:​ Press [Y=].

Step 2:​ Enter Equation.

Step 3: Press [GRAPH] to see the graph or [2ND][GRAPH]

to see the table.

2. Analyzing a Graph
a. Calculating a value
Step 1:​ Press [2ND][TRACE][1: value].

Step 2:​ Enter a value of X and press [ENTER].

b. Finding zeros
Step 1:​ Press [2ND][TRACE][2: zero].

Step 2:​ Move left of the zero and press [ENTER].

Step 3:​ Move right of the zero and press [ENTER].

c. Finding minimum/maximum
Step 1:​ Press [2ND][TRACE][3: minimum] or
Press [2ND][TRACE][4: maximum].

Step 2:​ Move left of the minimum/maximum and

press [ENTER].

Step 3:​ Move right of the minimum/maximum and

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press [ENTER].

3. Linear Regression/Line of Best Fit

Step 1:​ Press [STAT][1: Edit…].

Step 2:​ Enter X and Y values.

Step 3:​ Press [STAT][CALC][4: LinReg(ax+b)].

Step 4:​ Add Lists to Xlist and Ylist and press

[Calculate].

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 Linear Equations

● Slope-intercept form
○ y = mx + b
○ m is the slope and b is the y-intercept

● Point slope form

○ y − y 1 = m (x − x 1 )
○ m is the slope and ( x 1 , y 1 ) is any point on the line

● Standard form
○ ax + by = c
○ *b in the Standard form is different from b in Slope-intercept form

● Vertical Equation
○ x=a
○ a is the x-coordinate throughout the whole line

● Horizontal Equation
○ y=b
○ b is the y-coordinate throughout the whole line

● Examples:
○ y = 3x + 5
■ Slope: 3, y-intercept: 5

○ y − 5 = 4 (x − 2)
■ Slope: 4, Point on Line: (2,5)

○ 2x + 5y = 12

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 ■ Slope: -⅖, y-intercept: 12/5
○ x=2
■ X-Coordinate: 2

○ y=6
■ Y-Coordinate: 6

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 Solving Equations

Solving equations for a variable

○ Step 1:​ Move all like terms to the same side of the equation
○ Step 2:​ Combine like terms
○ Step 3:​ Solve for variable
● Example:
○ Equation: 4x + 1 = x − 5
○ Step 1:​ 4x − x = − 5 − 1
○ Step 2:​ 3x = -6
○ Step 3:​ x = -2

Solving Inequalities

Solving inequalities for a variable

● Similar to solving equations
○ Step 1:​ Move all like terms to the same side of the equation
○ Step 2:​ Combine like terms
○ Step 3:​ Solve for variable
● Don’t forget to change inequality sign when multiplying/dividing by a negative
● Example:
○ Equation: − 4x − 2 ≥ − 3x + 5
○ Step 1:​ − 4x + 3x ≥ 5 + 2
○ Step 2:​ − x ≥ 7
○ Step 3:​ x ≤ − 7
■ *Remember to flip the sign

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 Systems of Equations

Setting up Systems of Equations from a word problem:

○ Example: Julie has $11.50 and wants to buy a total of 15 apples and oranges.
Each apple cost $1.20 and each orange cost $0.70. How many apples and oranges
does she have?
■ Step 1: Create/Assign variables
● a = apples
● o = oranges
■ Step 2: Set up 2 Equations
● a + o = 15
○ Total apples and oranges
● 1.20a + 0.70o = 11.50
○ Total cost of fruit
■ Step 3: Choose one of 3 Methods to Solve
● Substitution:
○ Plug in one equation into the other to solve for one
variable.

a + o = 15 and 1.2a + 0.7o = 11.5

a = 15 − o and 1.2a + 0.7o = 11.5

1.2(15 − o) + 0.7o = 11.5

18 − 1.2o + 0.7o = 11.5

18 − 0.5o = 11.5

− 0.5o =− 6.5

o = 13

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 a + 13 = 15

a=2

o = 13 and a = 2

● Elimination:
○ Manipulate equations so one variable can be canceled out.

a + o = 15
1.2a + 0.7o = 11.5

− 1.2 * (a + o) = (15) *− 1.2

1.2a + 0.7o = 11.5

− 1.2a − 1.2o = − 18
1.2a + 0.7o = 11.5

− 0.5o = − 6.5

o = 13

a + 13 = 15

a=2

o = 13 and a = 2

● Graphing:
○ Graph both equations and see where they intersect.

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 ● All three methods come out to a = 2 and .

Nonlinear Equations

● Quadratic Equation
○ ax2 + bx + c = 0
○ y = a(x − h)2 + k
■ Vertex: (h,k)
■ If a > 0, the parabola opens up
■ If a < 0, the parabola opens down

● Exponential Equation
○ y = ex

● Logarithmic Equation
○ y = ln(x)

● Equation of Circle
○ (x − h)2 + (y − k )2 = r2
○ r: radius
○ (h,k): center

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 ● Equation of Ellipse
2 2
(x−h) (y−k)
○ a2
+ b2
=1
○ (h,k): center
○ a: horizontal distance from center to vertex
○ b: vertical distance from center to vertex

● Equation of Hyperbola
2 2
(x−h) (y−k)
○ a2
− b2
=1
■ Hyperbolas open to the right/left
2 2
(y−k) (x−h)
○ a2
− b2
=1
■ Hyperbolas open up/down
○ (h,k): center
○ a: the distance from the center to
the vertex

Solving Quadratic Equations

● Example: Solve for x2 + 4x − 12 = 0.

Completing the Square

○ Step 1: Move the constant to the other side
■ x2 + 4x = 12
○ Step 2: Complete the square by using ( b2 )2
■ x2 + 4x + 4 = 16
○ Step 3: Factor the expression
■ (x + 2)2 = 16
○ Step 4: Square root both sides

■ √(x + 2) 2
= √16 = x + 2 =± 4
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 ○ Step 5: Solve for x
■ x =− 2 ± 4 =− 6 or 2
Factoring
○ Step 1: Multiply the constants of the first and last term
■ 1 *− 12 =− 12
○ Step 2: Find 2 terms that multiply to get the previous step and that add to get the
middle term
■ 6 *− 2 =− 12 and 6 + (− 2) = 4
○ Step 3: Factor
■ (x + 6)(x − 2)
○ Step 4: Solve for each factor
■ x =− 6, 2
Quadratic Formula
○ ax2 + bx + c = 0

−b±√b2 −4ac
○ x= 2a

−4±√42 −4(1)(−12)
○ x= 2(1)

−4±√16+48
○ x= 2
○ x =− 2 ± 4 = -6, 2

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 Polynomials

● Binomials​ have two terms.

● Trinomials​ have three terms.
● Polynomials​ have four or more terms.
Adding/Subtracting Polynomials
○ Add or subtract like terms.
○ Example:
■ (3x2 + 2x − 6) − (2x2 − 6x + 3)
■ x2 + 8x − 9
Multiplying Polynomials
○ FOIL-​ First, Outside, Inside, Last
○ Example:
○ (3x+2)(4x-1)

○ 12x2 − 3x + 6x − 2 = 12x2 + 3x − 2
Dividing Polynomials
○ Example:
2x2 −6x+4
○ x−2

○ Polynomial Division

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 ○ Synthetic Division

Rational Functions

Adding/Subtracting Rational Functions

○ Add or subtract like terms.
○ They have to have the same denominator.
○ Example:
3x2 −2x+5 2x2 +5x−6 x2 −7x+11
■ 3x
− 3x
= 3x
4x2 +2x−7 3x2 −6x+4 2(4x2 +2x−7) 3x2 −6x+4 11x2 −2x−10
■ x
+ 2x
= 2x
+ 2x
= 2x

Multiplying Rational Functions

○ Multiply denominator and numerator.
○ Example:
2x+3 x−4 (2x+3)(x−4) 2x2 −5x−12
■ 4x2 * 2x3
= 8x5
= 8x5

Dividing Rational Functions

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 ○ Flip the second rational and change the division sign to a multiplication sign.
○ Example:
4x−5 6x+1 4x−5 4x3 2x(4x−5) 8x2 −10x
■ 2x2
÷ 4x3
= 2x2 * 6x+1
= 6x+1
= 6x+1

Finding Horizontal and Vertical Asymptotes

○ Vertical Asymptotes
■ Set the denominator equal to 0.
○ Example:
x2 −3x+1
● x+1

● x+1=0
● x =− 1
○ Horizontal asymptotes
■ If the ​highest degree of the numerator equals the degree of the
denominator​, divide the highest degrees to get the horizontal asymptote.
■ If the ​highest degree of the numerator is less than the degree of the
denominator​, the horizontal asymptote is 0.
■ If the ​highest degree of the numerator is greater than the degree of the
denominator​, there are no horizontal asymptotes.

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 Radicals and Exponents

Exponent and Radical Rules

Product Rule xm * xn = xm+n

xm
Quotient Rule xn = xm−n

Power of Product Rule (x * y )n = xn * y n

Power Rule (xm )n = xm*n

Zero Exponent Rule (xm )0 = 1

Negative Exponents x−m = 1

xm

Adding/Subtracting Exponents xm ± xn = xm ± xn
xm + xm = 2xm

m n
Fractional Exponents/Radicals x n = √xm

Multiplying Radicals √x * √y = √xy

√x
√
Dividing Radicals x
√y
= y

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 Sequences

Arithmetic Sequences
○ Arithmetic sequences are when a ​common number is added or subtracted from
each number.
○ Example: 1​ , 3, 5, 7
■ +2
○ Formula:​ a n = a 1 + (n − 1)d
■ a n = nth term in sequence
■ a 1 = first term in sequence
■ n = number in sequence
■ d = common difference
○ Example Problem:
The first five terms of an arithmetic sequence are given: -7, -2, 3, 8, 13,…
What is the eighth term in the sequence?
■ Solution:
a 8 =− 7 + (8 − 1) * 5
a 8 =− 7 + (7) * 5
a 8 =− 7 + 35
a 8 = 28
Geometric Sequences
○ Geometric sequences are ​always multiplied or divided by the same number
throughout the sequence.
○ Example:​ 1, 4, 16, 64
■ *4
○ Formula:​ a n = a 1 rn−1
■ a n = nth term in sequence
■ a 1 = first term in sequence
■ r = common ratio

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 ■ n = number in sequence
○ Example Problem:
The first term is 2 in the geometric sequence 2, -8, 32, -128…. What is the
eleventh term of the geometric sequence?
■ Solution:
a 11 = 2(− 4)(11−1)
a 11 = 2(1048576)
a 11 = 2097152
How to Tell the Difference
○ Arithmetic Sequences will always go up by the same amount while geometric
sequences will go up by multiples.

Scientific Notation

● A way to write large or small numbers using powers of 10s.

● Large Numbers
○ Form: x * 10n
○ Example: 284, 000, 000 = 2.84 * 108
● Small Numbers
○ Form: x * 10−n
○ Example: 0.0000000284 = 2.84 * 10−8

Scatterplots

Correlation
○ Strong Correlation
■ The line of best fit is close to ​most
points.
○ Weak Correlation

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 ■ The line of best fit is close to ​some points.
○ No Correlation
■ The line of best fit is close to a ​few points.
○ Positive Correlation
■ The slope of the line of best fit is ​positive.
○ Negative Correlation
■ The slope of the line of best fit is ​negative.

Linear vs Exponential Growth

Linear
○ If the y changes by adding the same values, it represents ​linear growth.
■ Changes at a constant rate
Exponential
○ If the y changes by multiplying the same values, it represents​ exponential
growth.
■ Changes by a%
■ Halves/Doubles

Probability

Probability
○ AND Probability
■ Probability of multiple things happening.
■ P (A ⋂ B ) = P (A) * P (B)
■ Probability of A and B
○ OR Probability
■ Probability of one thing OR another thing happening.
■ P (A ⋃ B ) = P (A) + P (B)
■ Probability of A or B
○ Conditional Probability
■ Probability of something happening GIVEN something else happens.

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 P (A⋂B)
■ P (A|B) = P (B)

■ Probability of A given B.
Independent vs Dependent
○ Independent Probability
■ Probability is NOT affected by another event happening.
○ Dependent Probability
■ Probability IS affected by another event happening.
Permutations
○ Order matters
n!
○ n P r= (n−r)!

■ n = total number of items

■ r = selected number of items
Combinations
○ Order does not matter
n!
○ nC r = r!(n−1)!

■ n=total number of items

■ r=selected number of items

Center and Distribution

Median
○ Number in the middle of a set of numbers
○ Example:
■ 1, 3, 6, 3, 7, 4, 2, 8, 1, 5
■ Step 1:​ Reorder Numbers.
● 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
■ Step 2:​ Find the middle number (If there are 2 in the middle find the
average of them).
● Median= 3+4 2
= 3.5
Mean
○ The average of all of the numbers

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 ○ Add all of the numbers and divide by the amount of numbers there are.
○ Example:
■ 1, 3, 6, 3, 7, 4, 2, 8, 1, 5
■ Step 1:​ Add all numbers together.
● 1 + 3 + 6 + 3 + 7 + 4 + 2 + 8 + 1 + 5 = 40
■ Step 2:​ Find out how many numbers there are in the set.
● There are 10 numbers.
■ Step 3:​ Divide the sum by the amount of numbers.
40
● Mean= 10 =4
Mode
○ The number that shows up the most in the set
○ Example:
■ 1, 3, 6, 3, 7, 4, 2, 8, 1, 5
■ Mode= 3 and 1
Standard Deviation
○ Standard deviation shows the spread of the data
○ The more spread out the data is, the ​greater​ the standard deviation is.
○ The less spread out the data is, the smaller the standard deviation is.
Range
○ The difference between the largest and smallest number
○ Example:
■ 1, 3, 6, 3, 7, 4, 2, 8, 1, 5
■ Step 1:​ Find the largest and smallest number.
● Largest= 8 and Smallest=1
■ Step 2:​ Subtract the smallest number from the largest number.
● Range= 8-1=7

Writing Formulas in Terms of Variable

Solving to get a variable alone on one side

● Example:
○ V = πr2 h
The formula gives the volume V with a radius r and height h . Write r in terms
of V and h .
○ Step 1:​ Get r alone on one side.

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 V
■ πh = r2
○ Step 2:​ Solve for r .
■ r=
√ V
πh

Surface Area and Volume Word Problems

● Most formulas for solids are given to you in the formula area of the math section.
● Always draw a Picture.
● Rectangular Prism
○ Volume= lwh
○ Surface Area= 2lw + 2lh + 2wh
○ Diagonal= √(l 2
+ w2 + h2 )

Angles

● Parallel Lines
○ Lines that point the same direction and will never meet.
● Perpendicular Lines
○ Lines that meet at a 90° angle.
● Supplementary Angles
○ Angles that add up to 180°.
● Complementary Angles
○ Angles that add up to 90°.
● Opposite Angles
○ Angles opposite of each other when two lines intersect are equal.
● Remember that the interior angles of a triangle equal 180°.
● Example:

What is the value of y

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 ○ Step 1:​ Find the value of x
■ X is the third value in the triangle, so you can use the equation
180 = 102 + 36 + x
■ 180 = 138 + x
■ x = 42
○ Step 2:​ Find the value of y using x
■ The angle y is opposite the angle x, so the value of y will be the same as x
■ y=42

Trigonometry

Right Triangle
○ Remember Soh Cah Toa to remember how to get sine, cosine, and tangent from a
triangle.
■ Soh:
opposite
S ine = hypotenuse

■ Cah:
adjacent
C osine = hypotenuse

■ Toa:
opposite
T angent = adjacent

○ sin(x°) = cos(90°−x°)
Radians
● Unit Circle
● Angles to Radians
π
■ Multiply by 180°

■ Example:
π 3π
● 270 °* 180°
= 2

● Radians to Angles
180°
■ Multiply by π

■ Example:
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 3π 180°
● 2 * π
= 270

Complex Numbers

● i is a complex number that equals √− 1.

● i2 = − 1
● i3 =− √− 1 or − i
● i4 = 1
● Multiplying by the conjugate
○ Example:
3+2i
○ 4−i
3+2i 4+i
○ 4−i * 4+i
(3+2i)(4+i)
○ 16−i2
12+11i+2i2
○ 16+1
10+11i
○ 17

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 Sources

● SAT Test Information

○ https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/sat/new-sat-tips-planning/about-the-sat-
math-test/a/the-sat-math-test
○ https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/pdf/official-sat-study-guide-about-math-
test.pdf

● Polynomials
○ https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/introduction-polynomial.html

● Scatterplots
○ https://www.onlinemathlearning.com/scatter-plots.html

● Probability
○ https://mrscottmathclass.weebly.com/unit-4---permutations-and-combinations.ht
ml

● Trigonometry
○ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unit_circle

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