Download the WASL Formula Sheet here. (pdf)

 

Some Formulas Students Should Know from Memory:

 

1. Perimeter: All polygons (triangle, square, rectangle, trapezoid, kite, etc.)

Add each length. The unit of measurement stays the same.

 

2. Length of a hypotenuse:

(Pythagorean Theorem) a^2 + b^2 = c^2 where c is the length of the hypotenuse

The units of measurement are "units" for example: feet or meters)

 

2. Area: Squares (A= s^2) where s is the side length;

Triangles (A = (b x h) / 2) where b is the base measure and height is the height;

Rectangle : (A = l x w ) where l is the length and w is the width

The unit of measurement becomes square "units" for example: square inches or square meters)

 

3. Surface Area: Cube [SA = 6 x s^2)] where s is the side length;

Rectangular Prism: SA = 2 [( l x w) + (l x h) + (w x h)] where l = length, w= width, and

h= height

Right Circular Cylinder: SA =(2 π r^2) + ( 2 πrh) where π is a calculator key or use 3.14 as an estimated value of π, r = the radius of the circular base, h = height of the cylinder.

The units of measurement become square "units" (for example: square feet or square centimeters)

 

4. Volume:

Cube: V = s^3 where s = side measure.

Rectangular Prism: V =l x w x h where l = length, w = width, and h = height

Triangular Pyramid & Circular Cone: V = 1/3 (Bx h) where B is the area of the base and h = the height from the highest point to the base. The units of measurement become cubic "units" (for example: feet cubed or meters cubed)

 

5. Triangle Inequality:

Given a triangle, the sum of any two sides must be larger than the third side

For example. Decide if there can be a triangle with side lenghts of 2 inches, 5 inches, and 6 inches.

Solution: 2 + 5 > 6 and 2+6 > 5 and 5+6 > 2,

therefore, we may conclude that a trangle with those measurements may be formed.

 

Other Formulas:

There may be other formulas given within individual problems on the WASL that students may need to use to solve the problem. Students will NOT need to have the formulas memorized; they will only need a working knowledge of the formula.

 

Examples:
The area of a trapezoid is A = 1/2 (top + bottom) x (height) where the top and the bottom are the parallel sides of the trapezoid.

 

The volume of a sphere is V = 4/3 π r^3