NDA Mathematics Complete Formula Sheet &

Previous Year Questions (PYQs) 2025

Chapter-wise Formula Collection with Practice Questions

1. ALGEBRA

Quadratic Equations
Basic Formulas:
Standard Form: ax² + bx + c = 0 (where a ≠ 0)
Quadratic Formula: x = (-b ± √(b² - 4ac))/2a
Discriminant: D = b² - 4ac
Sum of roots: α + β = -b/a
Product of roots: αβ = c/a
Formation of equation: x² - (sum of roots)x + (product of roots) = 0
Nature of Roots:
D > 0: Real and distinct roots
D = 0: Real and equal roots
D < 0: Imaginary roots
Important Identities:
(a + b)² = a² + 2ab + b²
(a - b)² = a² - 2ab + b²
(a + b)(a - b) = a² - b²
(a + b)³ = a³ + 3a²b + 3ab² + b³
(a - b)³ = a³ - 3a²b + 3ab² - b³
a³ + b³ = (a + b)(a² - ab + b²)
a³ - b³ = (a - b)(a² + ab + b²)
Arithmetic Progression (AP)
General term: aₙ = a + (n-1)d
Sum of n terms: Sₙ = n/2[2a + (n-1)d] = n/2(first term + last term)

Geometric Progression (GP)

General term: aₙ = ar^(n-1)
Sum of n terms: Sₙ = a(1-rⁿ)/(1-r) when r ≠ 1
Sum to infinity: S∞ = a/(1-r) when |r| < 1

Complex Numbers
Standard form: z = a + ib
Modulus: |z| = √(a² + b²)
Argument: arg(z) = tan⁻¹(b/a)
Conjugate: z̄ = a - ib
De Moivre's theorem: (cosθ + i sinθ)ⁿ = cos(nθ) + i sin(nθ)
PYQ Example (NDA 2023):
If α and β are roots of x² - 5x + 6 = 0, find α² + β².
Solution: Sum = α + β = 5, Product = αβ = 6
α² + β² = (α + β)² - 2αβ = 25 - 12 = 13

2. TRIGONOMETRY

Basic Ratios
sin²θ + cos²θ = 1
1 + tan²θ = sec²θ
1 + cot²θ = cosec²θ

Compound Angle Formulas

sin(A + B) = sinA cosB + cosA sinB
sin(A - B) = sinA cosB - cosA sinB
cos(A + B) = cosA cosB - sinA sinB
cos(A - B) = cosA cosB + sinA sinB
tan(A + B) = (tanA + tanB)/(1 - tanA tanB)
tan(A - B) = (tanA - tanB)/(1 + tanA tanB)
Double Angle Formulas
sin(2A) = 2sinA cosA = 2tanA/(1 + tan²A)
cos(2A) = cos²A - sin²A = 2cos²A - 1 = 1 - 2sin²A
cos(2A) = (1 - tan²A)/(1 + tan²A)
tan(2A) = 2tanA/(1 - tan²A)

Triple Angle Formulas

sin(3A) = 3sinA - 4sin³A
cos(3A) = 4cos³A - 3cosA
tan(3A) = (3tanA - tan³A)/(1 - 3tan²A)

Sum to Product Formulas

sinC + sinD = 2sin((C+D)/2)cos((C-D)/2)
sinC - sinD = 2cos((C+D)/2)sin((C-D)/2)
cosC + cosD = 2cos((C+D)/2)cos((C-D)/2)
cosC - cosD = -2sin((C+D)/2)sin((C-D)/2)

Product to Sum Formulas

2sinA cosB = sin(A+B) + sin(A-B)
2cosA cosB = cos(A+B) + cos(A-B)
2sinA sinB = cos(A-B) - cos(A+B)

Heights and Distances

Angle of elevation: tan θ = height/distance
Angle of depression: tan θ = depth/distance
PYQ Example (NDA 2024):
Find the value of sin 15°.
Solution: sin 15° = sin(45° - 30°) = sin 45° cos 30° - cos 45° sin 30°
= (√2/2)(√3/2) - (√2/2)(1/2) = (√6 - √2)/4

3. COORDINATE GEOMETRY

Distance and Section Formulas

Distance between (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂): d = √[(x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)²]
Midpoint: ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2)
Section formula (internal): ((mx₂+nx₁)/(m+n), (my₂+ny₁)/(m+n))
 Section formula (external): ((mx₂-nx₁)/(m-n), (my₂-ny₁)/(m-n))

Straight Lines
Slope-intercept form: y = mx + c
Point-slope form: y - y₁ = m(x - x₁)
Two-point form: (y - y₁)/(y₂ - y₁) = (x - x₁)/(x₂ - x₁)
Intercept form: x/a + y/b = 1
Normal form: x cos α + y sin α = p
Angle between lines: tan θ = |(m₁ - m₂)/(1 + m₁m₂)|

Circle
Standard form: (x - h)² + (y - k)² = r²
General form: x² + y² + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
Center: (-g, -f), Radius: √(g² + f² - c)
Equation of tangent at (x₁,y₁): xx₁ + yy₁ + g(x + x₁) + f(y + y₁) + c = 0

Parabola
Standard form: y² = 4ax
Vertex: (0,0), Focus: (a,0), Directrix: x = -a
Length of latus rectum: 4a

Ellipse
Standard form: x²/a² + y²/b² = 1 (a > b)
Eccentricity: e = √(1 - b²/a²)
Foci: (±ae, 0)

Hyperbola
Standard form: x²/a² - y²/b² = 1
Eccentricity: e = √(1 + b²/a²)
Asymptotes: y = ±(b/a)x
PYQ Example (NDA 2023):
Find the equation of the line passing through (2,3) and perpendicular to 3x + 4y = 5.
Solution: Slope of given line = -3/4
Slope of perpendicular line = 4/3
Equation: y - 3 = (4/3)(x - 2) ⟹ 4x - 3y + 1 = 0
4. MATRICES AND DETERMINANTS

Matrix Operations
Addition: [aᵢⱼ] + [bᵢⱼ] = [aᵢⱼ + bᵢⱼ]
Multiplication: (AB)ᵢⱼ = Σₖ aᵢₖbₖⱼ
Transpose: (Aᵀ)ᵢⱼ = aⱼᵢ
Inverse: A⁻¹ = (1/|A|) × adj(A)

Determinant Properties
For 2×2 matrix: |a b| = ad - bc
|c d|
For 3×3 matrix: Expansion along any row or column
Area of triangle with vertices (x₁,y₁), (x₂,y₂), (x₃,y₃):
Area = (1/2)|x₁(y₂-y₃) + x₂(y₃-y₁) + x₃(y₁-y₂)|

Important Properties
|AB| = |A||B|
|Aᵀ| = |A|
|kA| = kⁿ|A| for n×n matrix
If two rows (or columns) are identical, |A| = 0
PYQ Example (NDA 2024):
Find the determinant: |1 2 3|
|4 5 6|
|7 8 9|
Solution: Expanding along first row:
= 1(45-48) - 2(36-42) + 3(32-35) = 1(-3) - 2(-6) + 3(-3) = -3 + 12 - 9 = 0

5. CALCULUS

Limits
lim(x→0) (sin x)/x = 1
lim(x→0) (1 - cos x)/x = 0
lim(x→0) (tan x)/x = 1
lim(x→0) (eˣ - 1)/x = 1
lim(x→0) (aˣ - 1)/x = ln a
lim(x→∞) (1 + 1/x)ˣ = e
Differentiation Rules
Basic Rules:
Power rule: d/dx(xⁿ) = nxⁿ⁻¹
Constant rule: d/dx(c) = 0
Sum rule: d/dx(f + g) = f' + g'
Product rule: d/dx(fg) = f'g + fg'
Quotient rule: d/dx(f/g) = (f'g - fg')/g²
Chain rule: d/dx[f(g(x))] = f'(g(x))·g'(x)
Standard Derivatives:
d/dx(sin x) = cos x
d/dx(cos x) = -sin x
d/dx(tan x) = sec² x
d/dx(eˣ) = eˣ
d/dx(ln x) = 1/x
d/dx(aˣ) = aˣ ln a

Integration Rules
Basic Integrals:
∫xⁿ dx = xⁿ⁺¹/(n+1) + C (n ≠ -1)
∫(1/x) dx = ln|x| + C
∫eˣ dx = eˣ + C
∫aˣ dx = aˣ/ln a + C
∫sin x dx = -cos x + C
∫cos x dx = sin x + C
∫sec² x dx = tan x + C
∫cosec² x dx = -cot x + C
Properties of Definite Integrals:
∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx = -∫ᵇₐ f(x) dx
∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx = ∫ₐᶜ f(x) dx + ∫ᶜᵇ f(x) dx
∫ₐᵇ f(x) dx = ∫ₐᵇ f(a+b-x) dx
PYQ Example (NDA 2023):
Find ∫₀^(π/2) sin x dx
Solution: ∫₀^(π/2) sin x dx = [-cos x]₀^(π/2) = -cos(π/2) + cos(0) = 0 + 1 = 1
6. VECTOR ALGEBRA

Basic Concepts
Position vector: r⃗ = xi⃗ + yj⃗ + zk⃗
Magnitude: |r⃗| = √(x² + y² + z²)
Unit vector: r̂ = r⃗/|r⃗|

Vector Operations
Dot Product:
a⃗ ·b⃗ = |a⃗ ||b⃗ |cos θ = a₁b₁ + a₂b₂ + a₃b₃
Properties: a⃗ ·b⃗ = b⃗ ·a⃗ , a⃗ ·a⃗ = |a⃗ |²
Cross Product:
a⃗ ×b⃗ = |a⃗ ||b⃗ |sin θ n̂
|a⃗ ×b⃗ | = |a⃗ ||b⃗ |sin θ
a⃗ ×b⃗ = |i⃗ j⃗ k⃗ |
|a₁ a₂ a₃|
|b₁ b₂ b₃|

Scalar Triple Product

a⃗ ·(b⃗ ×c⃗) = |a₁ a₂ a₃|
|b₁ b₂ b₃|
|c₁ c₂ c₃|
PYQ Example (NDA 2024):
Find the angle between vectors a⃗ = i⃗ + j⃗ + k⃗ and b⃗ = i⃗ - j⃗ + k⃗
Solution: a⃗ ·b⃗ = 1(1) + 1(-1) + 1(1) = 1
|a⃗ | = √3, |b⃗ | = √3
cos θ = (a⃗ ·b⃗ )/(|a⃗ ||b⃗ |) = 1/3
θ = cos⁻¹(1/3)

7. PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS

Probability
Basic Formulas:
P(E) = Number of favorable outcomes / Total number of outcomes
P(A ∪ B) = P(A) + P(B) - P(A ∩ B)
P(A ∩ B) = P(A) × P(B) [for independent events]
P(A|B) = P(A ∩ B)/P(B) [conditional probability]
Permutations and Combinations
ⁿPᵣ = n!/(n-r)!
ⁿCᵣ = n!/[r!(n-r)!]
ⁿCᵣ = ⁿCₙ₋ᵣ
ⁿPᵣ = r! × ⁿCᵣ

Statistics
Mean: x̄ = Σx/n
Median: Middle value when data is arranged
Mode: Most frequently occurring value
Range: Highest value - Lowest value
Standard deviation: σ = √[Σ(x-x̄ )²/n]
Variance: σ² = Σ(x-x̄ )²/n
PYQ Example (NDA 2023):
In how many ways can 5 boys and 3 girls be arranged in a row if no two girls sit together?
Solution: First arrange 5 boys: 5! ways
Create 6 gaps, choose 3 for girls: ⁶C₃ × 3! ways
Total = 5! × ⁶C₃ × 3! = 120 × 20 × 6 = 14,400

8. IMPORTANT MENSURATION FORMULAS

2D Figures
Triangle:
Area = (1/2) × base × height
Area = √[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)] [Heron's formula]
Area = (1/2)ab sin C
Circle:
Area = πr²
Circumference = 2πr
Area of sector = (θ/360°) × πr²
Rectangle:
Area = length × breadth
Perimeter = 2(length + breadth)
3D Figures
Sphere:
Volume = (4/3)πr³
Surface area = 4πr²
Cylinder:
Volume = πr²h
Curved surface area = 2πrh
Total surface area = 2πr(r + h)
Cone:
Volume = (1/3)πr²h
Curved surface area = πrl (l = slant height)
Total surface area = πr(r + l)
Cube:
Volume = a³
Surface area = 6a²
Cuboid:
Volume = lbh
Surface area = 2(lb + bh + hl)

PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH SOLUTIONS

Algebra Section
Q1. (NDA 2023) If the roots of the equation x² - px + q = 0 are in the ratio 2:3, and the sum of
roots is 10, find p and q.
Solution:
Let roots be 2k and 3k
Sum: 2k + 3k = 10 ⟹ k = 2
Roots are 4 and 6
Sum = p = 10, Product = q = 24
Therefore, p = 10, q = 24
Q2. (NDA 2024) Find the 10th term of GP: 2, 6, 18, 54, ...
Solution:
a = 2, r = 3
a₁₀ = ar⁹ = 2 × 3⁹ = 2 × 19683 = 39366
Trigonometry Section
Q3. (NDA 2023) Prove that sin 4θ = 4sin θ cos θ cos 2θ
Solution:
sin 4θ = sin(2×2θ) = 2sin 2θ cos 2θ
= 2(2sin θ cos θ) cos 2θ = 4sin θ cos θ cos 2θ
Q4. (NDA 2024) Find the height of a tower if the angle of elevation from a point 100m away is
30°.
Solution:
tan 30° = height/100
1/√3 = height/100
height = 100/√3 = 100√3/3 ≈ 57.7m

Coordinate Geometry Section

Q5. (NDA 2023) Find the equation of circle passing through (0,0), (2,0), and (0,2).
Solution:
Let equation be x² + y² + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0
Passes through (0,0): c = 0
Passes through (2,0): 4 + 4g = 0 ⟹ g = -1
Passes through (0,2): 4 + 4f = 0 ⟹ f = -1
Equation: x² + y² - 2x - 2y = 0

Calculus Section
Q6. (NDA 2024) Find the derivative of y = sin(x²).
Solution:
Using chain rule: dy/dx = cos(x²) × d/dx(x²) = cos(x²) × 2x = 2x cos(x²)
Q7. (NDA 2023) Evaluate ∫₀¹ x² dx
Solution:
∫₀¹ x² dx = [x³/3]₀¹ = 1/3 - 0 = 1/3

Vector Section
Q8. (NDA 2024) If a⃗ = 2i⃗ + 3j⃗ - k⃗ and b⃗ = i⃗ - 2j⃗ + 3k⃗ , find a⃗ × b⃗ .
Solution:
a⃗ × b⃗ = |i⃗ j⃗ k⃗ |
|2 3 -1|
|1 -2 3|
= i⃗(9-2) - j⃗(6+1) + k⃗ (-4-3) = 7i⃗ - 7j⃗ - 7k⃗
Probability Section
Q9. (NDA 2023) A bag contains 5 red and 7 black balls. Two balls are drawn at random. Find the
probability that both are red.
Solution:
Total balls = 12
P(both red) = ¹²C₂/¹²C₂ = (5×4)/(12×11) = 20/132 = 5/33

Statistics Section
Q10. (NDA 2024) Find the mean and standard deviation of: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10
Solution:
Mean = (2+4+6+8+10)/5 = 30/5 = 6
Variance = [(2-6)² + (4-6)² + (6-6)² + (8-6)² + (10-6)²]/5
= (16+4+0+4+16)/5 = 40/5 = 8
Standard deviation = √8 = 2√2

QUICK REVISION TIPS

Time-Saving Shortcuts
1. Algebra: Memorize (a±b)² and (a±b)³ expansions
2. Trigonometry: Learn values of sin, cos, tan for 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°
3. Coordinate Geometry: Remember standard forms of conic sections
4. Calculus: Practice basic derivatives and integrals daily
5. Vectors: Master i⃗, j⃗, k⃗ notation and cross product determinant form

Most Important Topics (High Weightage)

1. Trigonometry: Compound angles, identities (30 questions expected)
2. Matrices & Determinants: Properties, 2×2 and 3×3 determinants (30 questions)
3. Algebra: Quadratic equations, AP/GP (25 questions)
4. Calculus: Basic differentiation and integration (20 questions)
5. Coordinate Geometry: Straight lines, circles (20 questions)

Last-Minute Formula Check

Keep this formula sheet handy during final revision
Practice writing formulas from memory
Solve at least 2-3 questions daily from each topic
Focus on accuracy over speed initially
 Time yourself while solving PYQs

Remember: Formula memorization is just the first step. Regular practice with previous year
questions is essential for NDA success. Focus on understanding the application of each formula
rather than just memorizing it.
Best of luck for NDA 2025!