IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

1. Important formulae used in simplification: 2. If P is the principal kept at Compound Interest (C.I.)
(1) (a + b)2 = a2 + b2 + 2ab @ r% p.a., amount after n years
(2) (a – b)2 = a2 + b2 – 2ab n
(3) (a + b)2 = (a – b)2 + 4ab  r 
= P 1  
(4) a2 – b2 = (a – b) (a + b)  100 
(5) a3 + b3 = (a + b) (a2 – ab + b2)
(6) a3 – b3 = (a – b) (a2 + ab + b2) 3. Amount = Principal + Interest
2 2 1 2 2
(7) a  b  [(a  b)  (a – b) ] 4. Let P = Original Population, P = Population after
2
n years, r% = rate of anual growth
2. Rules of counting numbers r 
n

1. Sum of f irst n natural numbers P'  P  1  
 100 
n  n  1
=
2 5. Difference between CI and SI for 2 and 3 years
respectively:
2. Sum of first n odd natural numbers (CI)2 – (SI)2 = Pa2 for two years
= n2 (CI)3 – (SI)3 = Pa2 (a + 3) for three years
r
3. Sum of first n even natural numbers where, a =
= n(n + 1) 100

4. Sum of the squares of first n natural 6. A principal amounts to X times in T years at S.I. It
will become Y times in:
n(n  1)(2n  1)
numbers =  Y – 1
6 Years   T
 X – 1
5. Sum of the cubes of first n
2 7. A principal amounts to X times in T years at C.I. It
 n(n  1)  will become Y times in:
natural numbers =  
 2  Years = T × n
where n is given by Xn = Y
PERCENTAGES
PROFIT AND LOSS
1. Two successive percentage changes of a% and Profit
b% is an effective change of 1. Profit % =  100
CP
 ab 
 a+b+ 100  %.  P 
  2. SP = CP + P% of CP = CP  1  
 100 
2. If A is r% more/less than B,
3. Discount = Marked Price – Selling Price
100 r
B is % less/more than A.
100  r Discount
4. Discount % =  100
Marked Price
INTEREST
5. The selling price of two articles is same.
1. P = Principal, A = Amount, I = Interest, n = no. of
If one is sold at X% profit and the other at loss of
years, r% = rate of interest
Pr n X2
The Simple Interest (S.I.) = X%, then there is always a loss of %
100 100

IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Page 1

RATIO & PROPORTION x1  x2  x3  ......  xn
2. Arithmetic Mean =
1. It a : b : : c : d, then ad = bc n

2. If a < b and x is a positive quantity, then 3. Geometric Mean = n x1  x2  x3  ......  x n

a ax a a–x
 and 
b bx b b– x 4. Harmonic Mean =
n
3. If a > b and x is a positive quantity, then
 1 1 1 1 
a ax a a–x     ......  
 and   x1 x 2 x 3 xn 
b bx b b– x

5. Let Ko be the initial concentration of a solution and

a c K is the final concentration after n dilutions.
4. If  then:
b d V is the original volume and x is the volume of the
solution replaced each time, then
ab cd
(a)  – Componendo Law n
b d Vx
K  Ko  
a–b c–d  V 
(b)  – Dividendo Law
b d
ab c d TIME, SPEED AND DISTANCE
(c)  – Componendo &
a–b c–d
Dividendo Law 5 18
1. 1 km/hr = m/s and 1m/s = km/hr
ac a 18 5
(d) 
bd b
Total Distance Travelled
2. Average Speed =
a c e Total Time Taken
5. If   = K, then:
b d f
3. When the distance is constant, the average speed
ace is the harmonic mean of the two speeds
(a) K
b d f
2S1S2
Savg 
pa  qc  re S1  S2
(b) = K
pb  qd  rf
(p, q and r are not all zero) 4. When the time is constant, the average speed is
the arithmetic mean of the two speeds.
ALLIGATION, MIXTURES AND MEAN S1  S2
Savg 
1. Alligation is a method of calculating weighted 2
averages. The ratio of the weights of the two
items mixed will be inversely proportional to the 5. D – Speed of the boat downstream
difference of each of these two items from the U – Speed of the boat upstream
average attribute of the resultant mixture. B – Speed of the boat in still water
R – Speed of the stream
x1 x2 D = B + R and
w1  x 2 – x  U = B – R.
x  Further, by adding and subt racti ng these
w 2  x – x1  equations we get,
x2 – x : x – x1
w1 : w2 DU D–U
B= and R =
2 2

Page 2 IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

6. W hen the distance cov ered by a boat in LINEAR EQUATION IN TWO VARIABLE
downstream is same as the distance covered by
For the two simultaneous equations,
the boat upstream then ax + by = c
Time taken downstream Upstream speed
px + qy = r
 where a, b, c, p, q and r are constants
Time taken upstream Downstream speed
a b c a b c a b
= = =  
7. If ‘H’ is the hours and ‘M’ is the minutes then the p q r p q r p q
angle between the hour hand and minute hand is The same Inconsistent Two
equation/ Equations/ intersecting
11 lines/
  30H – M Just one line/ Two parallel
2 Infinite Solutions lines/ Unique
Solution
No Solutions
NUMBER SYSTEM QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

1. 1 is not a prime number 1. General Form:

ax2 + bx + c = 0, where a  0
2. If two numbers a and b are given, and their LCM Such an equation has two roots, usually denoted
and HCF are L and H respectively, then L × H = a by  and .
× b.
–b + b2 – 4ac
=
2a
LCM of numerators
3. (a) LCM of fractions 
HCF of denominators –b – b2 – 4ac
=
2a

HCF of numerators
(b) HCF of fractions  b
LCM of denominators 2. Sum of roots:  +  = 
a
Note: Fractions should be in the lowest form.
c
3. Product of roots:  ×  =
4. The least number leaving remainder ‘r’ in a
each case when div ided by ‘x’, ‘y’ and 4. In ax2 + bx + c, if a > 0
‘z’ = (LCM of x, y, z) + r
Y
The series of such numbers will be
(LCM of x, y, z) × n + r

x X
5. In general, for any composite number C, which  
can be expressed as C = am × bn × cp× …, where
a, b, c, … are all prime factors and m, n, p are y
positive integers, then:
The minimum value of ax2 + bx + c will be
Number of factors is equal to
(m + 1) (n + 1)(p + 1) … 4ac – b2
y
4a

–b   
at, x  
2a 2
where, , are the roots of the equation

IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Page 3

5. In ax2 + bx + c, if a < 0 ARITHMETIC PROGRESSION (AP)

Y Let,
y a = The first term,
d = Common difference,
Tn = The nth term
X  = The last term,
 x  Sn = Sum of n terms,

1. The nth term is given by,

Tn = a + (n – 1)d
The maximum value of ax2 + bx + c will be
2. The sum of n terms is given by,
2
4ac – b n
y= Sn = [2a + (n – 1)d]
4a 2
or,
–b   
at, x   a+
2a 2 Sn =  ×n
 2 
where, , are the roots of the equation
3. T n = S n – Sn – 1
6. If the roots of a quadratic equation are  and ,
the equation can be re-constructed as
x2 – (sum of roots) × x + (product of roots) = 0
GEOMETRIC PROGRESSION (GP)
CUBIC & HIGHER DEGREE EQUATIONS
Consider the cubic equation ax3 + bx2 + cx + d = 0. Let,
a = The first term,
The equation would have 3 roots (equal to the degree of r = The common ratio
the equation). Some of them can be imaginary. If the roots Tn = The nth term and
are denoted as ,  and , we have Sn = The sum of n terms we have the following
b
1. ++  = – 1. Tn = arn – 1
a
c
2.  +  +  = (1– r n )
a 2. Sn = a , where r < 1
(1– r)
d
3.  = –
a
4. Remainder Theorem: a(rn – 1)
3. Sn = , where r > 1
To identify whether a given expression is a factor (r – 1)
of another expression, we can take help of
Remainder Theorem.
a
4. Sum of infinite number of terms =
According to the remainder theorem, when any 1– r
expression f(x) is divided by (x – a), the remainder
is f(a). (a is any constant in this example).

5. Factor Theorem:
An expression is said to be a factor of another
expression only when the remainder is 0 when the
latter is divided by the former.
(x – a) is a factor of f(x) if and only if f(a) = 0.

Page 4 IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

GEOMETRY 4. The following are some properties of a triangle right
angled at A, where AD  BC:
Triangle (i) AD2 = BD × DC
1. The area of a triangle can be determined in the (ii) AB2 = BD × BC
following ways: (iii) AC2 = CD × BC
1
(a) Area of a triangle =  b  h , where b is base
2
A
and h is height
(b) Area of a triangle = s(s – a)(s – b)(s – c) ,
where a, b and c are the sides of the triangle
abc
and s is the semi-perimeter i.e. s 
2
B D C
This formula of area is known as Heron’s
formula
1
(c) Area of triangle = ab sin  , where a and b are Polygon
2
the sides of the triangle and  is the included In a polygon of ‘n’ no. of sides,
angle i.e. angle between sides of length a
and b. n(n – 3)
1. Total number of diagonals =
2
2. Angle – Bisector Theorem:
360
2. Exterior angle of a regular polygon 
A n

3. Interior angle of a convex polygon

A/2
A/2

c b
360
= 180° –
n
4. Sum of all the exterior angles of a convex polygon
B D C = 360°
a

Angle bisector divides the opposite side in the ratio 5. Sum of interior angles of a n sided polygon
= (n – 2) × 180°
BD AB
of sides containing the angle. So 
DC AC
Circles
3. Apollonius Theorem:
Let a, b, c be the sides of a triangle and m is the 1. If two chords, AB and CD intersect inside or outside
length of the median to the side with length a. Then the circle at a point P,
1 2
b2  c 2  2m2  a A
2 B D
P A
D P B
C
C
b c
m Then, PA × PB = PC × PD

IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Page 5

2. If AB is any chord of a circle which is extended to
P, and PT is a tangent drawn from P on to the circle, C B
then
PA × PB = PT2 O1 O2
A D
A B
PQ, RS are Direct common tangents & AB, CD
P are Transverse common tangents.

T Length of PQ or RS

= (distance between centres)2 – (r2 – r2 )2

3. Angle subtended by the chord at the center of a
circle i s twi ce of that subtended at the
circumference. Length of AB or CD
X
= (distance between centres)2 – (r2  r2 )2

Reflex AOB (a) When two circles touch externally

O Distance between centres C1 C2 = r1 + r2 and
B 2 direct common tangents and one transverse
A common tangents are possible.
P
Thus AOB = 2 × AXB (b) When two circles touch internally
Only one common tangent is possible
4. An exterior angle of a cyclic quadrilateral is equal
to the angle opposite to its adjacent interior angle. (c) When two circles intersect.
Two direct common tangents are possible.
B
A (d) When one circle is completely inside the other
without touching each other.
No common tangent is possible

(e) When two circles are apart i.e. not touching

D C E each other
i.e. BCE  DAB Two direct and two transverse tangents are
possible.
5. This means that a parallelogram inscribed in a
circle is always a rectangle/square. 8. Alternate segment theorem:
6. Also, when a square or rectangle is inscribed in a Angle between any chord passing through the
circle, the diagonal of the square / rectangle is tangent point and tangent is equal to the angle
equal to the diameter of the circle. subtended by the chord to any point on the other
side of circumference (alternate segment)
7. Common Tangents for a pair of circles:
For the two circles with centres O1 and O2 and A
radius r1 & r2 x C
P Q
r1 r2 x
O1 O2 P B Q

R S

Page 6 IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

Mensuration
Two dimensional Figures

S.No. Name Figure Perimeter Area Nomenclature

a = Length
1. Rectangle b 2(a + b) ab
b = Breadth
a
a

2. Square a a 4a a2 a = Side

a
b is the base and
1 h is the altitude.
a c 1. b×h
3. Triangle h a + b + c = 2s 2 a, b, c are three
2. sides of 's is the
semiperimeter
b

Right angled d 1 d (hypotenuse)

4. h b+h+d bh
triangle 2 = b2 + h2
b
1 a = side
1. ah
Equilateral a a 2 h = Altitude
5. triangle h 3a
2. 3 a2 = 3 a.
4 2
a

Isosceles d 1 2
6. right angled a 2a + d a
2 a = Each of equal
triangle sides.
a
a
a = Side
7. b b 2(a + b) ah b=
Parallelogram h
h=
a
a
d1 a=
a 1
8. Rhombus d2 a 4a d × d2
2 1
a
D C AC is one of its
h1 diagonals and h1, h2
h2 Sum of its 1
9. Quadrilateral (AC)(h1 + h2) are the altitudes on
four sides 2 AC from D, B
respectively.
A B
b a, b are parallel
sides and h is the
Sum of its 1 perpendicular
10. Trapezium h h(a + b)
four sides 2 distance between
parallel sides.
a

IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Page 7

 S.No. Name Figure Perimeter Area Nomenclature
r = Radius of
the circle
r Circumference r 2
11. Circle = 2 r  = 22or 3.416
7
(approx.)

1 r 2 r = Radius of
12. Semicircle r + 2r the circle
2
r r

Ring R 2(R + r) (R2 – r 2) R = Outer radius

13. (shaded regi on) r r = Inner radius

=
l+ 2r where
Sector of A 
14. r  × r 2 r=
a circle  l= × 2 r 360°
360°
B  C l=
Area of
 segment ACB r=
O ×2r
Segment of 360° (Minor segment)  =
15. a circle  r
  sin
A B + 2rsin = r2 –
C 2 360° 2
l
Pathways l = Length
running across b = Breadth
16. the middle of w A = w(l + b – w) w = Width of
a rectangle the path
w b

w
17. Pathways l 2[l + b + 4w] A = 2w(l + b + 2w)
outside b
w

l
w
18. Pathways 2[ l + b – 4w ] A = 2w(l + b – 2w)
inside b
w

Page 8 IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

 Solids

S.No. Name Figure Lateral/curved Total surface Volume Nomenclature

surface area area
l = Length
1. Cuboid 2( l b+bh+ l h) lbh b = Breadth
h = Height

2. Cube 6a 2 a3 a = Edge

(Area of
3. Right prism base) ×
(Height)
r=
Right circular 2r(r + h) r 2 h
4. 2rh h=
cylinder

1 (Perimeter of 1
5. Right pyramid 2 3 (Area of
the base) × the base)
(Slant height) × Height
h = Height
Right circular r(l + r) 1r 2h r = Radius
6. rl 3
cone l = Slant height
2 2
= r +h

7. Sphere 4r 2 4 r 3
r = Radius
3

8. Hemisphere 2r 2 3r 2 2 r 3 r = Radius

3

4(R 2 + r 2) 4 R = Outer radius

9. Spherical shell 3 r = Inner radius

Trigonometry
Height PB
(i) sin   
1. Angle Measures: Hypotenuse AP
Angle are measured in many units viz. degree,
Base AB
minute, seconds, radians. We have (ii) cos   
1 degree = 60 minutes, 1 minute = 60 seconds,  Hypotenuse AP
radians = 180°
Height PB
(iii) tan   
Trigonometrical Ratios: Base AB
1 Base AB
In a right angled triangle ABP, if  be the angle (iv) cot    
tan  Height PB
between AP and AB we define
P 1 Hypotenuse AP
(v) sec    
cos  Base AB
1 Hypotenuse AP
(vi) cosec    
 sin  Height PB
B A

IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Page 9

2. Important Formulae: 3. loga (Xk) = k loga X
sin 
(i) tan  
cos  1
4. log X loga X
ak k
(ii) sin2   cos2   1
(iii) 1  tan2   sec 2  1
5. loga k X  loga X
2
(iv) 1  cot   cosec  2 k

3. Trigonometric measures of certain angles: 6. log X  k loga X

a1/ k

7. loga 1 = 0 [As a0 = 1]
Angle sin cos tan

0° 0 1 0 8. logx X = 1
1 3 1
30° 2 2 3 1
9. loga X = log a
1 1 x
45° 2 2
1

3 1 logb X
60° 2
3 loga X 
2 10.
logb a
90° 1 0 
11. a(loga X)  X

Signs of trigonometric ratios 12. When base is not mentioned, it will be taken as 10.

IInd quadrant Ist quadrant MODERN MATHS

Here, only sin and Here all ratios
cosec are positive. (sin, cos, tan, sec,
cosec, cot) are positive. Permutations & Combinations
n n!
IIIrd quadrant IVth quadrant 1. Pr 
(n – r)!
Here, only tan and Here, only cos and
cot are positive. sec are positive. n n!
2. Cr 
(n – r)! r !
You can remember above table as
n
School After n Pr
3. Cr 
To College r!

n
4. Cr  n Cn–r
LOGARITHM
5. If out of n things, p are exactly alike of one kind, q
1. loga (XY) = loga X + logaY exactly alike of second kind and r exactly alike of
third kind and the rest are different, then the
 X number of permutations of n things taken all at a
2. loga   = loga X – loga Y
Y n!
time =
p!q!r!

Page 10 IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS

Probability 5. If two events are said to be mutually exclusive
then if one happens, the other cannot happen and
1. Probability of an event vice versa. In other words, the events have no
simultaneous occurence.
Number of favourable outcomes
= In general P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) – P (A  B)
Number of all possible outcomes
If A, B are mutually exclusive then
P (A  B) = 0
2. The probability of E not occuring, denoted by If A, B are independent then
P (not E), is given by P (not E) or P ( E ) P(A  B) = P(A)  P(B)
= 1 – P (E)
6. Additional law of probability:
If E and F are two mutually exclusive events, then
3. Odds in favour the probability that either event E or event F will
Number of favourable cases occur in a single trial is given by:
= P(E or F) = P(E) + P(F)
Number of unfavourable cases
If the events are not mutually exclusive, then
P(E or F) = P(E) + P(F) – P(E and F together).
4. Odds against
Number of unfavourable cases 7. Multiplication law of probability:
= If the events E and F are independent,
Number of favourable cases
then P(E and F) = P (E) × P (F)

IMPORTANT FORMULAE FOR COMPETITIVE EXAMS Page 11