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GMAT Focus Quant Formulas: Essential Cheat Sheet
GMAT Focus Quant tests business-school-level maths. Here are the formulas grouped by topic, with tips on when to apply them.
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.