Math Flashcards
SAT Math, Flashcard Deck
15 flashcards with spaced repetition. Press Space to flip, then rate your recall (1–4).
Additional Flashcard Topics
Linear Equations: y = mx + b. m is the slope (rise/run), b is the y-intercept. Point-slope form: y - y₁ = m(x - x₁). Parallel lines have equal slopes; perpendicular lines have negative reciprocal slopes.
Systems of Equations: substitution (solve one equation, substitute into the other) or elimination (add/subtract equations to eliminate a variable). Check solutions by substituting into both original equations.
Probability: P(event) = favorable outcomes / total outcomes. Independent events: P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B). Mutually exclusive: P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B).
Statistics: mean = sum/count, median = middle value (sort first), mode = most frequent. Standard deviation measures spread from the mean.
Percent Problems: percent change = (new - old) / old × 100. Successive percent changes multiply: a 10% increase followed by a 10% decrease does NOT return to the original.
Intuition
SAT Math tests your ability to apply mathematical concepts to real-world problems. The core topics, algebra, geometry, and statistics, form the foundation. Algebra handles equations and functions, geometry covers shapes and spatial reasoning, and statistics involves data analysis and probability. The test rewards understanding relationships between concepts, not just memorising formulas. The digital SAT includes a built-in calculator for all math sections, so focus on understanding concepts rather than manual computation.
Common Pitfalls
- Substitution errors: Plugging values into formulas incorrectly, always double-check which variable you’re substituting for and watch for negative signs.
- Geometry formula mix-ups: Confusing area (πr²) with circumference (2πr), or volume formulas for different shapes, create a formula sheet and review it regularly.
- Statistics misreading: Misidentifying mean, median, and mode, mean is the average, median is the middle value, and mode is the most frequent value. Practice distinguishing them from data sets.
- Negative sign distribution: Forgetting to distribute negatives across all terms in parentheses. -(2x - 3) = -2x + 3, not -2x - 3.
- Assuming diagrams are to scale: SAT diagrams are not drawn to scale unless stated. Don’t trust visual estimates, use the given measurements and mathematical relationships.
Cross-References
- Site Home: Main landing page for sat notes.
- Practice: Practice problems for revision.
- Algebra: Algebraic foundations for all SAT math topics.
- Data Analysis: Statistics and probability topics tested on the SAT.
Detailed Content
Core Concepts
Worked Examples
Common Mistakes
- Rushing through foundational material
- Not practising problems after reading
- Failing to connect concepts across topics