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Chill, I got 800 and I don't even know any of these. (Okay, maybe two of them.) |
Every math class makes you memorize or at least gives you a sheet full of formulas to use for tests. Since the SAT Math is a math test, you'll need to memorize formulas, right?
Err— sort of...? Kind of...?
"So do I have to memorize formulas for the SAT??"
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What the heck? |
The test makers give you a list of formulas and math facts at the beginning of every math section. How nice are they? You don't have to memorize any formulas after all!
If only things were that simple...
Have you ever wondered why practically every student has to take the SAT (or ACT), a test that includes MATH? If you're going to major in English, why do you have to take a MATH test?
Because the SAT Math was intended to be a test for EVERY student, whether he/she is pursuing a STEM major or not.
Also, the SAT is designed so that students from virtually any sort of background can solve. For example, not every high school provides AP Calculus. And what if the SAT were to test on calculus? Students who couldn't take calculus are at a huge disadvantage.
To make the SAT "accessible" to pretty much every student, it tests on basic math concepts taught in Algebra and Geometry, courses that almost every high school student must take.
Did I mention how the SAT is meant for EVERY student? STEM major or not? (I did.)
That's because the SAT Math is testing more on your math "ability" than your math "knowledge". (For more depth into this topic, click
here.)
Formulas are things that you know or do not know. It doesn't necessarily indicate intelligence. An average high school math student can memorize the Law of Sines because he took Trigonometry and Pre-calculus, but can't solve the sum of the first 100 whole numbers quickly, when a 7 year old did it over 200 years ago. (Curious? Click
here.)
But is it true that the SAT Math is meant for every student? Err— IDK. That's not really important.
What's important is that the SAT Math doesn't expect you to memorize a bunch of crazy formulas.
"Then what is it? Do I have to memorize formulas or not??"
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I don't even... |
Short answer: yes, you do have to memorize some formulas.
HOWEVER, you do have to know more math facts than formulas for the SAT. You need to know your order of operations, number properties, geometry properties, etc.
But this post is about formulas, so let's talk about math facts some other time.
Let's start with the formulas you are given at the beginning of every math section. Memorize those cold. You might think that it's a waste of time to memorize formulas that are given to you, but the SAT is a time deprived test. You'll be wasting precious seconds for every time you turn over your testing paper to look up a formula. Not to mention that those formulas aren't too hard to memorize, so why not commit those to memory?
Are there any formulas that aren't given?
Yes, there are some formulas the SAT expects you to know ahead of time. You'll need to know how to solve percentages, percent change, distance, probability, averages, etc.
Although, those formulas are rather easy and you've should know them already. After all, those have been used occasionally, if not frequently in your math classes.
If you don't know them, or can't remember them, that's alright. You can always look them up on the internet.
"Did you memorize formulas for the SAT Math?"
Other than obvious and easy formulas such as the reference sheet, percentage, percent change, probability, distance = rate x time, averages, etc. I didn't memorize many formulas. (Maybe (n-2) x 180?)
There are certainly formulas that you can use to solve for an answer quickly, such as the Harmonic Mean formula, or the Generalized Pythagorean Theorem. But I still found the answers to such problems without them. Meaning that I derived the answer by using MATH. Although it might be nice to know them because it can save you some time. (I didn't even know they existed until AFTER I finished my last SAT. Darn it.)
In short, I used a combination of memorizing the essential easy formulas, and did the rest by doing math.
TLDR: You must memorize formulas that are essential to solving a question.
Here are some links to formulas/facts you (might) need to know for the SAT Math.