Home › GMAT Quant Formulas 2026: Free Formula Sheet (Algebra, Geometry, Stats)
GMAT Quant Formulas 2026: Free Formula Sheet (Algebra, Geometry, Stats)
GMAT Focus Quant tests business-school-level maths. This free formula sheet lists every formula you actually need, grouped by topic, with worked examples and tips on when to apply each one.
The one-page GMAT Quant formula sheet
Arithmetic: Percent change = ((New − Old) / Old) × 100; Compound interest A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt); Average = Sum / Count, so Sum = Average × Count. Algebra: (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²; (a − b)² = a² − 2ab + b²; a² − b² = (a + b)(a − b). Geometry: Circle Area = πr², Circumference = 2πr; Triangle Area = ½ × base × height; Rectangle Area = l × w; Box volume = l × w × h; Cylinder volume = πr²h; Pythagoras a² + b² = c² (triples 3-4-5, 5-12-13). Statistics: Mean = Sum / Count; Probability = Favourable / Total; independent events P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B); Speed = Distance / Time; Work rate = 1 / time. Keep this list beside you while you practise, then take a timed mock to lock it in.
GMAT Focus Quant section overview
GMAT Focus Quant is one of three equally weighted sections (Quant, Verbal, Data Insights). It covers Problem Solving (choose the answer) and Data Sufficiency (decide if statements are sufficient to solve). Formulas help, but GMAT rewards problem-solving logic and estimation.
Arithmetic and algebraic identities
Percent problems: Percent change = ((New – Old) / Old) × 100. Interest (compound): A = P(1 + r/n)^(nt). Ratios and proportions: a/b = c/d. Algebraic identities: (a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b², (a – b)² = a² – 2ab + b², a² – b² = (a + b)(a – b). These shortcuts save time.
Geometry for GMAT
Circle: Area = πr², Circumference = 2πr. Triangle: Area = (1/2) × base × height, and for a right triangle, remember 3–4–5, 5–12–13 Pythagorean triples. Rectangle: Area = l × w. Volume: Box = l × w × h, Cylinder = πr²h. GMAT often tests these in combination (e.g. comparing volumes of different shapes).
Statistics, averages and probability
Mean = (Sum) / (Count). Sum = Mean × Count (useful for finding missing values). Median and mode for distributions. Probability: P(event) = (Favorable) / (Total). Independent events: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B). GMAT Data Insights often combines statistics with logic.
Data Sufficiency strategy and formulas
In Data Sufficiency, you do NOT need to solve — only decide if a statement gives enough information. Formulas help you quickly recognise what is sufficient. For example, if the problem asks for area of a circle and statement gives radius, that is sufficient (use Area = πr²). Avoid over-solving.
When to estimate instead of calculate
GMAT rewards estimating for speed. If the answer choices are far apart, approximating π ≈ 3.14, rounding numbers and testing answers is faster than precise calculation. Use formulas to set up the logic, then estimate to narrow choices.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the GMAT Quant section harder than GRE?
- Both test high-school maths at an advanced level. GMAT data sufficiency is more about logic than calculation; GRE problem-solving often requires more computational steps. Formulas matter for both.
- Can I use a calculator on GMAT Focus?
- Yes, the on-screen calculator is available. But practise mental math and estimation — they are faster for many problems.
- What percentage of GMAT Quant is geometry?
- Roughly 15–20% touches geometry directly, though many problems blend geometry with algebra or statistics.