Average formula:

Let a1,a2,a3,......,an be a set of numbers, average = (a1 + a2 + a3,+......+ an)/n

Fractions formulas:

Converting a mixed number to an improper fraction:

Converting an improper fraction to a mixed number:

Formula for a proportion:

In a proportion, the product of the extremes (ad) equal the product of the means(bc),

Thus, ad = bc

Percent:

Percent to fraction: x% = x/100

Percentage formula: Rate/100 = Percentage/base

Rate: The percent.

Base: The amount you are taking the percent of.

Percentage: The answer obtained by multiplying the base by the rate

Consumer math formulas:

Discount = list price × discount rate

Sale price = list price − discount

Discount rate = discount ÷ list price

Interest = principal × rate of interest × time

Geometry formulas:

Perimeter:

Perimeter of a square: s + s + s + s ; where s:length of one side

Perimeter of a rectangle: l + w + l + w; where l: length, w: width

Perimeter of a triangle: a + b + c ; where a, b, and c: lengths of the 3 sides

Area:

Area of a square: s × s ; where s: length of one side

Area of a rectangle: l × w ; where l: length, w: width

Area of a triangle: (b × h)/2; where b: length of base, h: length of height

Area of a trapezoid: (b1 + b2) × h/2; where b1 and b2: parallel sides or the bases, h: length of height

volume:

Volume of a cube: s × s × s ; where s: length of one side

Volume of a box: l × w × h; where l: length, w: width, h: height

Volume of a sphere: (4/3) × pi × r3, ; where pi: 3.14, r: radius of sphere

Volume of a triangular prism: area of triangle × Height = (1/2 base × height) × Height; where

base: length of the base of the triangle, height: height of the triangle, Height: height of the triangular
prism

Volume of a cylinder: pi × r2 × Height; where pi: 3.14, r: radius of the circle of the base

Height: height of the cylinder

Mean: The mean is the sums of the values in the set divided by the number of items in the set

There is basically no difference between the mean and the average. In statistics, the term 'mean' is used
instead of 'average' : The mean for 2, 4, and 6 is (2 + 4 + 6)/3 = 12/3 = 4

Mode of a set of data : Mode: The mode is the value or values that occur most often in a set.

Finding the median

The median is the value in the middle when the set is ordered from least to greatest or from greatest to
least.
 Physics formulas for high school

Density is mass per unit volume : Density = mass / volume

Velocity = displacement / time

Force = rate of change of momentum

Momentum = mass . velocity

Power is rate of work done : Power = work / time, Unit of power is watt

Potential energy (P) : PE = m.g.h where m = mass, g = acceleration due to gravity (9.81m/s2), h = height

Kinetic energy (P) : P = (1/2).m.v2, where m = mass, v = velocity

Ohm’s law : V = I . R where V = voltage applied, R = Resistance , I = current

Electric power (P) = (voltage applied) x (current) : P = V . I = I2 . R, where V = voltage applied, R = Resistance

I = current

OPTICS

Index of refraction : n = c/v where n is index of refraction, c is velocity of light in a vacuum

v is velocity of light in the given material

Math problem solving strategies

Some math problem solving strategies will be considered here. Study them carefully so you know how to
use them to solve other math problems.

The biggest challenge when solving math problems is not understanding the problem.It is not because you
cannot do math.

Make a guess and test it.

Example #1

The sum of 2 consecutive odd numbers is 45. What are the two integers?

Before guessing, Always make sure you understand the problem. If possible, get a dictionary or look up the
vocabulary words in your math textbook

Sum: refer to adding numbers

consecutive: In the context of this problem, it will mean that we are looking for an odd number and the
next odd number that immediately follows the first one

Guessing here means that you will arbitrarily pick two odd numbers, add them, and see if it is equal to 45

15 + 17 = 32. It does not work. Since 32 is smaller than 45, pick higher numbers

19 + 21 = 40. Getting closer

21 + 23 = 45. Here we go. We found the two numbers by guessing!

Example #2

A kindergarten class is going to a play with some teachers. Tickets cost 5 dollars for children and 12 dollars
for adults

Number of tickets sold amount to 163 dollars.

How many teachers and children went to the play?
First, make sure you understand the problem. What the problem is really asking is the following:
How many adult tickets were sold? How many children tickets were sold?
Guess and check!
Pretend that 3 children tickets were sold. Then, 17 adult tickets were sold
Total cost = 3 × 5 + 17 × 12 = 15 + 204 = 219
The total is too high. Pretend that 14 children tickets were sold. Then, 6 adult tickets were sold
Total cost = 14 × 5 + 6 × 12 = 70 + 72 = 142
The total is a little too low now. Pretend that 12 children tickets were sold. Then, 8 adult tickets were sold
Total cost = 12 × 5 + 8 × 12 = 60 + 96 = 156
As you can see, it is going higher again and it is getting closer to 163. May be 11 tickets for children and 9
tickets for adults will work
Total cost = 11 × 5 + 9 × 12 = 55 + 108 = 163
Here we go! 11 children and 9 teachers went to the play.

Sometimes, math problem solving strategies could involve making a list. This could happen if I slightly
modify example #2
Example #3

A kindergarten class is going to a play with some teachers. Tickets cost 5 dollars for children and 12 dollars
for adults. A total of 20 people could go to the play. There must be at least 2 teachers to supervise the
children, but no more than 10. Find all possible ways this could be done. How can the school minimize their
cost?

This problem involves making a list

If 2 teachers go, then 18 children will go

If 3 teachers go, then, 17 children will go
and so forth...

Total cost = 2 × 12 + 18 × 5 = 24 + 90 = 114

Total cost = 3 × 12 + 17 × 5 = 36 + 85 = 121
Total cost = 4 × 12 + 16 × 5 = 48 + 80 = 128
Total cost = 5 × 12 + 15 × 5 = 60 + 75 = 135
Total cost = 6 × 12 + 14 × 5 = 72 + 70 = 142
Total cost = 7 × 12 + 13 × 5 = 84 + 65 = 149
Total cost = 8 × 12 + 12 × 5 = 96 + 60 = 156
Total cost = 9 × 12 + 11 × 5 = 108 + 55 = 163
Total cost = 10 × 12 + 10 × 5 = 120 + 50 = 170
As you can see, the less teacher they send, the less the cost.

The least expensive case is to send 2 teachers and 18 children. Other teachers will not be happy about it

Math problem solving strategies could also include the use of a variable

Example #4

The use of a variable means that you will let the unknown be x, write and equation, and solve the
equation.

Use of a variable for example 3

Let x be number of children tickets. Then, 20 - x is number of adult tickets

cost of children tickets + cost of adult tickets = total cost

x × 5 + (20 - x ) × 12 = 163

5x + 20 × 12 - x × 12 = 163

5x + 240 -12x = 163

5x + 240 -240 -12x = 163 - 240

5x - 12x = -77

-7x = -77

-7x/-7 = -77/-7

x = 11.

Math problem solving strategies involving drawing a diagram

Example #5
A highway has a gas station every 2 miles, a rest area every 4 miles, and a Burger King every 3 miles.
Where is the closest gas station, rest area, and burger king all at the same time?

A little diagram describing the situation is all we need to tackle this problem real quick.

Let red be gas station, let blue be rest area, and let green be Burger King. Draw the diagram below.

Notice that every gap between the red lines represents the location of a gas station. Same idea for the
blue lines and the green lines

The vertical arrow is point toward the location where all 3 services can be found at the same time

As you can see, it is 12 miles!

You may wonder. How do we get the answer without drawing a diagram? Great question! That will be
important if you are dealing with big numbers

To get the 12, you need to look for the Least common multiple (LCM). The smallest number that is a
multiple of 2, 3, and 4

That number is indeed 12. More information on Least common multiple

Among great math problem solving strategies, is working backward

Example #6

One day, I woke up and feeling generous, I took all the apples in my refrigerator and I decided to give them
away

I went outside and I gave one-half of my apples plus one to the first stranger I met. Then, I gave one-half of
the remaining apples plus one to the second person I met and one-half of the remaining apples plus one to
the third person. I had one apple left at the end. How many apples did I have when I left my house (This is
not a true story. I made that up)

Starting backward means that you are starting with the result and work your way backward until you get
what you started with

Third person: Received one-half plus one. Just do the reverse of that. Give yourself one and twice

1 + 1 = 2 and 2 × 2 = 4. ( This makes sense because giving one-half of 4 plus one means giving 2 and then 1)

Second person: received one-half plus one. Just do the reverse of that. Give yourself one and twice

4 + 1 = 5 and 5 × 2 = 10.

First person: received one-half plus one. Just do the reverse of that. Give yourself one and twice

10 + 1 = 11 and 11 × 2 = 22.

So you had 22 apples in your bag

The math problem solving strategies I discussed above are great examples. Make sure you understand
them. Hope you had fun exploring these math problem solving strategies!