GMAT Geometry Formulas

● Geometry is often considered to be one of the

hardest sections to crack without preparation;
however, that is not necessarily the case - with
consistent preparation, geometry questions would
become easier to handle.
● With so many formulas to learn and remember, this
section is going to take a lot of time to master.
● A good way to utilize this formula collection: read a
formula, try to visualize it and solve as many
questions related to the formula as you can.
● Remember that knowing a formula and knowing
when or where to apply it are two different abilities.
You could gain the first ability by going through
reading this formulae list, but the latter will come
only through solving problems.
● In this document, we provide an exhaustive list of
GMAT Geometry formulas to make the geometry
section a lot easier for GMAT aspirants.

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 Lines and Angles
Collinear points:
Three or more points lying on the single straight
line. In this diagram the three points A,B and C are
collinear

Concurrent lines:
If three or more lines lying in the same plane
intersect at a single point then those lines are called
concurrent lines.
The three lines X, Y and Z are concurrent lines here.

➢ When two angles A and B are complementary,

sum of A and B is 90°
➢ When two angles A and B are supplementary,

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 sum of A and B is 180°
➢ When two lines intersect, opposite angles are
equal. Adjacent angles are supplementary
➢ When any number of lines intersect at a point,
the sum of all the angles formed = 360°
➢ Consider parallel lines AB, CD and EF as shown
in the figure.

➢ XY and MN are known as transversals

➢ ∠XPQ = ∠PRS = ∠RTU as corresponding
angles are equal

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➢ Interior angles on the side of the transversal
are supplementary. i.e. ∠PQS + ∠QSR = 180°
➢ Exterior angles on the same side of the
transversal are supplementary. i.e. ∠MQB +
∠DSU = 180°
➢ Two transversals are cut by three parallel
𝑃𝑅 𝑄𝑆
lines in the same ratio i.e.
𝑅𝑇
= 𝑆𝑈

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 Co-ordinate Geometry

● The distance between two points with coordinates

(X1,Y1), (X2,Y2) is given by

2 2
D = (𝑋2 − 𝑋1) + (𝑌2 − 𝑌1)

𝑦2−𝑦1
● Slope, m=
𝑥2−𝑥1
(If 𝑥2=𝑥1then the lines are

perpendicular to each other)

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● Mid point between two points A(𝑥 ,𝑦1) and B (𝑥2, 𝑦2)
1

𝑥1+𝑥2 𝑦1+𝑦2
is ( , )
2 2

● When two lines are parallel, their slopes are equal

i.e. 𝑚1= 𝑚2
● When two lines are perpendicular, product of their

slopes = -1 i.e, 𝑚
1
∗𝑚2 = −1
● If two intersecting lines have slopes m1 and m2 then the
angle between two lines will be
𝑚1−𝑚2
tan θ =
𝑚1𝑚2

(where θ is the angle between the lines)

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● The length of perpendicular from a point(𝑋 , 𝑌 ) on
1 1

𝐴𝑋1+ 𝐵𝑌2+ 𝐶
the line AX+BY+C = 0 is 𝑃= 2 2
𝐴 +𝐵

● Equations of a lines :

General equation of a 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐵𝑦 = 𝐶
line
Slope intercept form 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐
(𝑐 𝑖𝑠 𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑒𝑝𝑡)
Point-slope form 𝑦 − 𝑦1 = 𝑚(𝑥 − 𝑥1)

Intercept form 𝑥 𝑦
𝑎
+ 𝑏
= 1
Two point form 𝑦−𝑦1 𝑥−𝑥1
𝑦2−𝑦1
= 𝑥2−𝑥1

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 Triangles
➔ Sum of all angles in a triangle is 180°
➔ An angle less than 90° is called an acute angle.
An angle greater than 90° is called an obtuse angle.
➔ A triangle with all sides unequal is called scalene
triangle
➔ A triangle with two sides equal is called an
isosceles triangle.
➔ The two angles of an isosceles triangle that are not
contained between the equal sides are equal
➔ A triangle with all sides equal is called an
equilateral triangle. All angles of an equilateral
triangle equal 60°.
➔ If in a triangle all of its angles are less than 90°
than that triangle is called as acute angled triangle
➔ A triangle with one of its angle equal to 90° than
that triangle is called as Right angled triangle

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➔ A triangle with one of its angles greater than 90°
than that triangle is called an Obtuse angled
triangle.
➔ If one side of a triangle is produced then that
exterior angle formed is equal to the sum of
opposite remote interior angles
➔ A line joining the mid point of a side with the
opposite vertex is called a median. (Here D is the
midpoint of the AC side or AD = DC). BD is the
median of this triangle ABC.

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● A perpendicular drawn from a vertex to the opposite
side is called the altitude

● A line that bisects and also makes right angle with

the same side of the triangle is called
perpendicular bisector
● A line that divides the angle at one of the vertices
into two parts is called angular bisector
● All points on an angular bisector are equidistant
from both arms of the angle.
● All points on a perpendicular bisector of a line are
equidistant from both ends of the line.

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● In an equilateral triangle, the perpendicular
bisector, median, angle bisector and altitude
(drawn from a vertex to a side) coincide.
● The point of intersection of the three altitudes is
the Orthocentre.
● The point of intersection of the three medians is
the centroid.
● The three perpendicular bisectors of a triangle
meet at a point called the Circumcentre. A circle
drawn from this point with the circumradius would
pass through all the vertices of the triangle.
● The three angle bisectors of a triangle meet at a
point called the incentre of a triangle. The incentre
is equidistant from the three sides and a circle
drawn from this point with the inradius would
touch all the sides of the triangle.
● Sum of any two sides of a triangle is always greater
than its third side

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● Difference of any two sides of a triangle is always
lesser than it’s third side

● Pythagoras theorem:
In a right angled triangle ABC where
2 2 2
∠B= 90°, 𝐴𝐶 = 𝐴𝐵 + 𝐵𝐶
● Mid Point Theorem :
The line joining the midpoint of
any two sides in a triangle is
parallel to the third side and is
half the length of the third side.
If X is the midpoint of CA and Y
is the midpoint of CB.
Then XY will be parallel to AB
and XY = ½ * AB

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● Basic proportionality theorem :
If a line is drawn parallel to one
side of a triangle and it intersects
the other two sides at two distinct
points then it divides the two sides
in the ratio of respective sides. If in
a triangle ABC, D and E are the
points lying on AB and BC
respectively and DE is parallel to
AC then AD/DB = EC/BE

● Interior Angular Bisector theorem :

In a triangle the angular
bisector of an angle divides the
side opposite to the angle, in the
ratio of the remaining two sides.
In a triangle ABC if AD is the
angle bisector of angle A then
AD divides the side BC in the
same ratio as the other two
sides of the triangle.
i.e. BD/ CD= AB/AC.

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● Exterior Angular Bisector theorem :
The angular bisector of the exterior
the angle of a triangle divides the
opposite side externally in the ratio
of the sides containing the angle. In
a triangle ABC, if CE is the angular
bisector of exterior angle BCD of a
triangle, then AE/BE = AC/BC

● Cyclic Quadrilateral :
If a quadrilateral has all its vertices
on the circle and its opposite angles
are supplementary (here x+y =
180o) then that quadrilateral is
called cyclic quadrilateral. In a
cyclic quadrilateral the opposite
angles are supplementary.
Exterior angle is equal to its remote interior
opposite angle. (here ∠CBX = ∠ADC)

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● If x is the side of an equilateral triangle then the
3
Altitude (h) =
2
𝑥
3 2
Area =
4
𝑥
1
Inradius = *h
3
2
Circumradius = *h
3
Similar triangles :
If two triangles are similar then their corresponding
angles are equal and the corresponding sides will be in
proportion.

For any two similar triangles :

● Ratio of sides = Ratio of medians = Ratio of heights =

Ratio of circumradii = Ratio of Angular bisectors

● Ratio of areas = Ratio of the square of the sides.

Tests of similarity : (AA / SSS / SAS)

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Congruent triangles:
If two triangles are congruent then their
corresponding angles and their corresponding sides
are equal.
Tests of congruence : (SSS / SAS / AAS / ASA)

Area of a triangle:
(𝑎+𝑏+𝑐)
● A = 𝑠(𝑠 − 𝑎)(𝑠 − 𝑏)(𝑠 − 𝑐) where s =
2

1
● A=
2
* 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 * 𝑎𝑙𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑢𝑑𝑒

1
● A=
2
* 𝑎𝑏 * 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝐶 (C is the angle formed

between sides a and b)

𝑎𝑏𝑐
● A= where R is the circumradius
4𝑅

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● A = r * s where r is the inradius and s is the semi

perimeter. (where a, b and c are the lengths of the

sides BC, AC and AB)

Special triangles :
0 0 0
● 30 , 60 , 90

0 0 0
● 45 , 45 , 90

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 ● Consider the triangle ABC with incentre I, and
the incircle touching the triangle at P,Q,R as
shown in the diagram. As tangents drawn from
a point are equal, AP=AQ, CP=CR and BQ=BR.

● In an equilateral triangle, the centroid divides the

median in the ratio 2:1. As the median is also the
perpendicular bisector, angle bisector, G is also the
circumcentre and incentre.

● If a is the side of an equilateral triangle,

circumradius =a/√3 and inradius = a/(2√3 )

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 Circles
● The angle subtended by a diameter of circle on the
0
circle = 90
● Angles subtended by an equal chord are equal.
Also, angles subtended in the major segment are
half the angle formed by the chord at the center

● Equal chords of a circle or equidistant from the

center

● The radius from the center to the point where a

tangent touches a circle is perpendicular to the
tangent

● Tangents drawn from the same point to a circle

are equal in length

● A perpendicular drawn from the center to any

chord, bisects the chord

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 θ 1
Area of minor segment AXC = 2 - 2
360π𝑟 2𝑟 𝑆𝑖𝑛θ
Inscribed angle Theorem :

2∠ACB = ∠AOB
The angle inscribed by the two points lying on the circle,
at the center of the circle, is twice the angle inscribed at
any point on the circle by the same points.

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Angles subtended by the same segment on the circle
will be equal. So, here angles a and b will be equal.

The angle made by a chord with a tangent to one of

the ends of the chord is equal to the angle subtended
by the chord in the other segment.
As shown in the figure, ∠ACB = ∠BAT.

Consider a circle as shown in the image.

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 2
Here,𝐴𝑃 * 𝐴𝑄 = 𝐴𝑆 * 𝐴𝑈 = 𝐴𝑇

Two tangents drawn to a circle from an external common

point will be equal in length. So here AZ = AT

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 Polygons and Quadrilaterals

● If all sides and all angles are equal, then the

polygon is a regular polygon
𝑛(𝑛−3)
● A regular polygon of n sides has
2

diagonals
● In a regular polygon of n sides, each exterior
360
angle is degrees.
𝑛

● Sum of measure of all the interior angles of

a regular polygon is 180 (n-2) degrees
(where n is the number of sides of the
polygon)

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● Sum of measure of all the exterior angles of
regular polygon is 360 degrees

ABCDEF is a regular hexagon with each side equal to ‘x’

then
0
● Each interior angle = 120
0
● Each exterior angle = 60
0
● Sum of all the exterior angles = 360
0
● Sum of all the interior angles = 720
3 3 2
● Area =
2
𝑎

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Areas of different geometrical figures:

Triangles 1
* 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
2

Rectangle 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ * 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ

Trapezoid 1
* 𝑠𝑢𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑠 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
2

Parallelogram 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Circle π * 𝑟𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑢𝑠
2

Rhombus 1
* 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑠
2

Square 2
𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑜𝑟
1
𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑠
2
2

Kite 1
* 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑖𝑎𝑔𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙𝑠
2

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 Solids
Volume of different solids:
Cube 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
3

Cuboid 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ * 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Prism 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Cylinder π𝑟 ℎ
2

Pyramid 1
3
* 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Cone 1 2
3
* π𝑟 * ℎ
Cone Frustum (If R is the 2 2
1
base radius, r is the upper
3
* π(𝑅 + 𝑅𝑟 + 𝑟 )
surface radius and h is the
height of the frustum)

Sphere 4
*π * 𝑟
3
3

Hemi-sphere 2
π𝑟
3
3

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Total Surface area of different solids:
Prism 2 * 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 *
𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡
Cube 6 * 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
2

Cuboid 2(𝑙ℎ + 𝑏ℎ + 𝑙𝑏)

Cylinder 2π𝑟ℎ + 2π𝑟
2

Pyramid 1
* 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 *
2
𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 + 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒
Cone (l is the slant π𝑟(𝑙 + 𝑟)
height)
Cone Frustum (where R & r are 2 2
the radii of the base faces and l π𝑟(𝑅 + 𝑟 + 𝑅𝑙 + 𝑟𝑙)
is the slant height)

Sphere 4π𝑟
2

Hemi-sphere 3π𝑟
2

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Lateral/Curved surface area:
Prism 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Cube 4 * 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ
2

Cuboid 2 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 +

2 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑡ℎ * ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Cylinder 2π𝑟ℎ

Pyramid 1
* 𝑃𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒 *
2
𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡

Cone (l is the slant π𝑟𝑙

height)
Cone Frustum (where R is π(𝑅 + 𝑟)𝐿
the base radius, l is the
slant height)

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