a.

Rounding Off

Arithmetic

Place Value

253.874
Hundreds digit
Tens digit

UNITS DIGIT
Tenths digit

Hundredths digit

Thousandths digit

The digits on the right side of the decimal point are referred with suffix -THS, i.e. Tenths,
Hundredths, Thousandths, etc.
The digits on the left side of the decimal point are Units, Tens, Hundreds and so on.

Rules for rounding a number

If a number is to be rounded to any place, then consider the digit on the immediate right of
that place. (For e.g. if 253.8197 is to be rounded to the nearest TENTH, then consider the
HUNDREDTHS digit.)

If the digit on the immediate right is less than 5, then keep the digit as it is and drop all
the digits on the right side of it.

If the digit on the immediate right is more than or equal to 5, then increase the digit by 1
and drop all the digits on the right side of it.

b. Repeating Decimals: Decimal part has some digits repeating infinite number of times.
For e.g.

11

= 0.090909............. (also written as 0.09 ) is a repeating decimal.

1. Number of Repeating Digits: The longest sequence of different digits in the decimal part
1
of a Recurring Decimal. = 0.14285714285714.... has 6 repeating digits.
7
1 3 6
2. Number of repeating digits depends primarily on the denominator. For e.g. , , , etc.
7 7 7
have 6 repeating digits.

3. If the denominator has ONLY 2s and/or 5s (e.g.

), then the fraction will

20 2 5
always be a terminating decimal. If denominator has any prime number other than 2
1
1
), then it will give us a repeating decimal.
and 5 (e.g.
=
65 5 13
2

4. Number of repeating digits in inverse of first 5 prime numbers (2, 3, 5, 7 and 11):

2
1
3
1

7
1

and

are terminating decimals (i.e. they have 0 repeating decimal).

= 0.3333......... = 0.3 has 1 repeating digit.

= 0.142857142857......... = 0.142857 has 6 repeating digits.

11

= 0.090909......... = 0.09 has 2 repeating digits.

c. Conversion

1 million = 1,000,000 = 106

1 billion = 109 = 1,000 million

1 trillion = 1012 = 1,000 billion

1 dollar = 100 cents

1 quarter = 25 cents
1 dime = 10 cents
1 nickel = 5 cents
1 yard = 3 feet

1 feet = 12 inches
1 lb = 16 oz

1 gallon = 4 quarts = 8 pints = 128 fluid ounces (fl. oz.)

d. Percent: Percent (per hundred) is an equivalent value out of 100.

To calculate percent, the reference value (or base value) will go in the denominator, and
quantity to be compared will go in the numerator.

Y
100

X is p percent more than Y: X = Y +

X
100

Y is p percent less than X: Y = X

1. Percentage change =

final initial
100 %
initial

Note: If percentage change is negative, that means quantity decreases.

2. If a quantity changes by p%, then:

Final value = initial +

Note: In case of decrease, p is negative.

p
initial =
100

1 + 100 initial

3. A value changes by a%, and then changes by b%.

Overall % change = a + b +

4. Simple interest: SI = P

ab
%
100

Simple Interest and Compound Interest

R
N
100

5. Total amount under compound interest: A = P 1 +

100

P = Principal amount;

Note:

R = Rate of interest;

N = Number of terms.

If interest is given monthly, N is number of months and R is monthly rate of interest,

If interest is given quarterly, N is number of quarters and R is quarterly rate of interest,

etc.
Amount under compound interest is always higher than the amount under simple
interest (except when invested for one term).
Exponents

6. am an = am + n
7.

am
= am n
an
n

8. (am) = amn

9. an =

1
an

(if a is positive number)

10. (ab)n = anbn

Properties:

an = bn

a = b (if n is odd integer)

a = b (if n is even integer)

a 0 ( a denotes non-negative square root. E.g. 4 = 2 only, not 2)

a2 0 (square is non-negative. E.g. (4)2 = 16)

a0 = 1 (if a 0, i.e. base is non-zero)

0n = 0 (if n > 0, i.e. power should be positive)

1n = 1

(1)n = 1

(if n is even integer)

(if n is odd integer)

Quadratic Equations

11. For the quadratic equation ax2 + bx + c = 0, solution (or roots) are given by
x=

b2 4ac
b b2 4ac
b + b2 4ac
, i.e. one root is
and other is
.
2a
2a
2a

Note: a, b, and c have to be considered with sign.

Discriminant: D = b2 4ac

D < 0, i.e. negative: Given equation has no real solution.

D = 0: Given equation has one real solution.

D > 0, i.e. positive: Given equation has 2 different real solutions.

12. Sum of the roots =

b
c
and Product of the roots =
a
a

Progressions

13. nth term of an Arithmetic Progression: a n = a + (n 1)d

14. Sum of an AP: S =

a = First term;

n
(a + l)
2

n = Number of terms;

l = Last term;

15. nth term of a GP is given by: a n = arn 1

16. Sum of a GP: S =
a = First term;

a(1 r n )
(1 r)

d = Common difference.

n = Number of terms;

r = Common ratio.

17. Approx. sum of an HP: S = (Number of terms) (Middle Term)

Time and Rate

18. Rate Time = Total Quantity

When people work together, net rate is sum of the individual rates. Hence, formula
becomes:
(R 1 + R 2 + R 3 + ) Time = Work

where R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , are rates of each individual.

Note: If A takes a hours and B takes b hours, then together they take
complete the work.

19. Speed =

ab
a+b

hours to

Distance
Time

20. Average Speed =

Total Distance
Total Time

If same distance @ a mph and b mph, then avg. speed =

a+b

21. If two persons travel in opposite direction, then:

Time taken to meet =

2ab

Initial Distance
d
=
Sum of the speeds a + b

22. If two persons travel in same direction, then time taken to catch is given by formula:

Time taken to catch =

Initial Distance
d
=
Difference of the speeds a b

Note: Formulae 21 & 22 are applicable only if two persons A and B start moving at the
same time.

In one revolution, distance traveled by a wheel is equal to the circumference of the wheel.
Hence, if wheel is making N revolutions per minute, the distance traveled per minute, i.e.
Speed = (Revolutions per minute) (Circumference) = N 2r.

Permutation and Combination

23. n! = n (n 1) (n 2) (n 3) () 3 2 1
Note: 0! (factorial of zero) is 1.

n
r

24. = C r =
n

25. P r =

n!
r ! ( n r )!

n!
( n r )!

26. Number of arrangements of n different objects in a line = n!

27. Number of arrangements of n different objects in a circle = (n 1)!

28. Number of arrangements of n objects in a line =

n!
p! q! r ! ...

where p objects are alike of one kind, q are alike of another kind, r are alike of still another
kind, and so on.

29. Number of arrangements when some objects are together

= (Arrangement of all objects considering box as single object)

(Arrangement within box)

Formulae 28 and 29 are mostly applicable for rearrangement of letters of a word. For digit
problems,
-

Draw the dashes equal to number of digits.

If Zero is among the given digits, then it cannot occupy leftmost place unless otherwise
clarified.

Fill the dashes from left to right, except when some condition is given. For e.g. the
condition could be that the units digit is prime or even, etc.

start from left to right except when some condition is given .for example the condition
could be given that the units digit is prime or even. Etc.

30. Arithmetic Mean =

Statistics

Sum of the terms

Number of the terms

Sum of the terms can be calculated as: Sum = Mean No. of terms

Note: If numbers are in AP, then average =

first term + last term

.
2

31. Median = middle term (if number of terms is odd); and

Median = avg. of middle 2 terms (if number of terms is even).

first term + last term

.
2
32. Mode is the term appearing maximum times, i.e. the term that has highest frequency.
Note: If numbers are in AP, then median = mean =

33. Range = maximum minimum

34. Standard Deviation () =
Variance = (S.D.)2

( x1 x )2 + ( x2 x )2 + ( x3 x )2 + ... + ( xn x )2
; and
n

Difference of each number from mean squared, averaged and then taken square root
is Standard Deviation.

x = Arithmetic Mean; x 1 , x 2 , x 3 , , x n are n given data values.

n = Number of terms;

S.D. signifies average distance of data from mean.

Addition or subtraction of a constant from each value does not affect the S.D. and Range.
Multiplication and Division have a direct effect.

35. Normal Distribution: Symmetric distribution in which 68% of the data is within one S.D.
away from mean and 96% of the data is within 2 S.D. away from mean.
Geometry

36. SUM of any 2 sides > Third side; and DIFFERENCE of any 2 sides < Third side.

37. Sum of all interior angles = 180. Sum of all exterior angles = 360.

38. Area of a =

1
base height
2

39. Area of an equilateral =

3
side2
4

40. Sides of 30 - 60 - 90 are in the ratio of 1 3 2.

Sides of 45 - 45 - 90 are in the ratio of 1 1

41. Similarity:

Sides are proportional, and angles are equal.

Ratio of areas = Square of ratio of sides.

42. For a polygon:

Sum of all interior angles = (n 2) 180.

Sum of all exterior angles = 360.

Number of diagonals =

n (n 3)
2

2.

Figure

Definition and Properties

Quad. with one pair of parallel sides.

Trapezoid

Parallel sides are called bases and nonparallel sides are called legs.
Quad. in which opposite sides are ||.

Parallelogram

Rhombus

Area of the figure

Opposite angles and sides are equal.

= base height

Quad. in which all sides are equal. (which

means opposite sides are equal, and hence it
is a parallelogram)

Diagonals bisect each other.

Diagonals are to each other.

Diagonals are angle bisectors.

Rectangle

Quad. in which all interior angles are equal.

(which means opposite s are equal, and
hence it is a parallelogram)
Diagonals are equal.

Quad. in which all interior angles and all sides

are equal.
Square

(sum of || sides)
2
(distance between them)
=

All properties of rectangle and rhombus.

It is a regular quadrilateral.

(product of diagonals)

= length breadth

= side2 =

diagonal2

43. Circumference of a circle = 2r

44. Area of a circle = r2

45. Length of the arc =

46. Area of a sector =

360

360

2r

r2

47. Tangent is perpendicular to the radius drawn at the point of contact.

48. Two tangents drawn from any external point are of same length.

49. Angle subtended by an arc at the center, is twice of the angle subtended by the arc in the
remaining part of the circle. Angle subtended by an arc in the remaining part of the circle
remains constant.

Figure

Name & Terminology

Volume

Cuboid
l Length
b Breadth
h Height

d=

l 2 + b2 + h2

Surface Area
(C.S.A. Curved Surface Area)
(T.S.A. Total Surface Area)

lbh

2(lb + bh + lh)

a3

6a2

(Body diagonal)
Cube

a Edge length
d=

3a

(Body diagonal)

Right Circular Cylinder

r Base radius
h Height

r2h

C.S.A. = 2rh
T.S.A. = 2r(h + r)

1 2
r h
3

C.S.A. = rl
T.S.A. = r(l + r)

4 3
r
3

4r2

Rigth Circular Cone

r Base radius
h Height
l=

r 2 + h2

(Slant height)
Sphere

r Radius

Hemisphere
r Radius

2 3
r
3

50. Median/Centroid: Centroid divides the median in the ratio of 2:1.

C.S.A. = 2r2

T.S.A. = 3r2

51. In an equilateral or isosceles triangle, altitude, angle bisector and median are same line. (In
an isosceles triangle, the 3 lines coincide only for base.)

Venn Diagrams

52. Total Neither = A + B Both

53. Total Neither = A + B + C (in exactly 2 categories) 2(in all 3 categories)

For more than 3 categories, use table method.

Be careful while reading the question. For example, exactly v/s at least, etc. are to be
carefully handled.

54. Probability of an event E: p(E) =

Probability

Favorable outcomes for event E

Total outcomes or Total ways

Card Problems: Use (favorable selections)/(total selections).

Dice Problems: Count the favourable ways using a tabular approach. Total ways are 36, if 2
dice are rolled.
Coin Problems: If p is the probability of getting heads in a single toss, then
n

Probability of h heads and (n h) tails = C h (p) (1 p)

nh

Geometric Probability: Use (favorable area)/(total area).

Coordinate Geometry

II Quadrant

I Quadrant

x-coordinate negative

x-coordinate positive

y-coordinate positive

y-coordinate positive

III Quadrant

IV Quadrant

x-coordinate negative

x-coordinate positive

y-coordinate negative
55. Distance between 2 points P and Q =

y-coordinate negative

( x1 x2 ) + ( y1 y2 )
2

[difference

i.e.

of x-coord .] + [difference of y-coord .]

2

 x1 + x2 y1 + y2
i.e.
,
2
2

56. Coordinates of midpoint of P and Q

57. Slope of a line: m =

(average of x-coordinates, average of y-coordinates)

y y2
change in y - coordinates
= 1
change in x - coordinates
x1 x 2

Parallel Lines: Slopes are equal. m 1 = m 2 .

Perpendicular Lines: Product of the slopes is 1. m 1 m 2 = 1.

m = 0: for any line parallel to x-axis.

m = not defined: for any line parallel to y-axis.

Ascending Lines: m > 0

Descending Lines: m < 0

58. Equation of a line: y = mx + c, where m is the slope, and c is the y-intercept of the line.

x-intercept is x-coordinate of the point where y-coordinate is zero. Similarly, y-intercept is ycoordinate of the point where x-coordinate is zero.

If a line passes through origin, then x-intercept = y-intercept = 0.

59. Mirror-image and Rotation

Reflection about x-axis: Change the sign of y coordinate.

Reflection about y-axis: Change the sign of x coordinate.

Reflection about y = x: Interchange the x and y coordinates.

Reflection about y = x: Interchange the x and y coordinates, and change their individual
signs.
When a point is rotated about origin by 90, then interchange the x and y coordinates,
and sign will depend on the quadrant in which the point finally lies.

60. Functions

Linear Functions: Y = mX + c

Quadratic Functions: Y = aX2 + bX + c (Graphically, this equation represents a parabola.)

If a > 0, parabola opens towards positive y-axis. If a < 0, parabola opens towards
negative y-axis.
If X is replaced by (X k), where k > 0, then graph shifts towards positive x-axis.

If X is replaced by (X + k), where k > 0, then graph shifts towards negative x-axis.

Numbers

Natural Numbers: 1, 2, 3, 4 (counting numbers)

Whole Numbers: 0, 1, 2, 3 (natural numbers including ZERO)

Integers: , 3, 2, 1, 0, 1, 2, 3 (whole numbers including negative). Integers are

classified into:
o

Even Integers: Integers which are divisible by 2. E.g. , 6, 4, 2, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8

Odd Integers: Integers which are not divisible by 2. E.g. , 5, 3, 1, 1, 3, 5, 7

Rational Numbers: Number of the form p/q (where p, q are integers and q 0). E.g. 2/3,
7/5
Irrational Numbers: Non-terminating non-repeating decimal. E.g. 2 , 3 5 ,

Numbers (or Real Numbers): Any number which can be represented on number line.

61. If x, y are integers (x 0) and

x is a factor of y.

OR

y
is an integer.
x

y is divisible by x.

OR

y is a multiple of x.

To calculate the number of positive factors of an integer, prime factorize the number and
then take the product of one more than the power of each prime number.

62. Dividend = Divisor Quotient + Remainder

63. If a number is divisible by x and by y, then the number must be divisible by least positive
multiple of x and y (typically referred as LCM of x and y).

64. Product of 2 positive integers = HCF LCM

65. Divisibility rules of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, & 11

a) For 2: Last digit must be divisible by 2. E.g. 532, 750, etc

b) For 4: Last 2 digits must be divisible by 4. E.g. 532784, 750812, etc

c) For 8: Last 3 digits must be divisible by 8. E.g. 187688, 246720, etc

d) For 3: Sum of digits must be divisible by 3. E.g. 5325, 7509, etc

e) For 9: Sum of digits must be divisible by 9. E.g. 3285, 6750, etc

f) For 6: Number must be divisible by 2 & 3. E.g. 5322, 7506, etc

g) For 5: Last digit must be 0 or 5. E.g. 53275, 750, etc

h) For 11: (Sum of digits at odd places) (Sum of digits at even places) must be a multiple
of 11. E.g. 3280926 (3 + 8 + 9 + 6) (2 + 0 + 2) = 22. Hence 3280926 is divisible by 11.
Similarly, 14641, 823328, etc are divisible by 11.

66. Cyclicity of 2, 3, 7 and 8 is 4; cyclicity of 4 and 9 is 2; and in case of 0, 1, 5 and 6, units digit
remains same no matter what is the power.

Inequalities and Modulus

Addition and subtraction have no effect on an inequality.

If a positive number is multiplied to both sides of inequality, then inequality remains same;
but if a negative number is multiplied to both sides of inequality, then inequality reverses.
Same is the effect of division by a constant.

If product of 2 unknowns is positive, then either both are positive or both are negative.
If product of 2 unknowns is negative, then one of them is positive and other one is
negative.

Never cancel any unknown on both the sides of an inequality. Take all the quantities on one
side and then consider cases.

For a number greater than 1: As power increases, value increases, i.e. x < x2 < x3 < x4 < and
so on. Also, if x is greater than 1, then x < x2. However, x < x2 does not imply that x is greater
than 1.
For a number between 0 and 1: As power increases, value decreases, i.e. x > x2 > x3 > x4 >
and so on.

Modulus/Absolute Value

Modulus of any number denotes the distance of that number from "0" on number line.
To solve modulus based inequalities, there are 3 methods:

Copy-copy-copy or Copy-reverse-reverse. Use this method only when one side of

inequality is modulus expression and other side is a NUMBER (not a
variable/unknown).

Critical Points: |x| = x (if x > 0); and |x| = x (if x < 0). So consider possibilities for the
expression inside modulus, i.e. whether it is positive or negative, and simplify
accordingly by opening the modulus using this rule.
Distance approach: |x a| denotes distance between x and a on the number line.