Geometry might not be your strong suit, but you’re going to encounter it on GRE Quant, guaranteed. So how can you score highly on it? What are the formulas, rules, and terms you’ll need to know so you can solve GRE geometry problems quickly and accurately?

In this extensive GRE geometry review, we’ll go over the basics of geometry, including the major rules and formulas, and offer detailed explanations for official practice questions. We’ll also cover techniques for studying geometry as well as how you can effectively approach these questions on test day.

 

GRE Geometry Overview

Geometry is one of four major math subjects tested on the GRE, in addition to arithmetic, algebra, and data analysis. ETS (the company that proctors the GRE) doesn’t specify how many geometry problems are on the test, but we estimate roughly 15 percent of Quant centers on geometry, with triangles being one of the most commonly tested shapes. Clearly, geometry plays a pretty big role on the GRE!

But what exactly is geometry? If you’re envisioning shapes, you’re mostly correct. The bulk of GRE geometry revolves around circles and polygons (closed 2-D shapes created using straight lines), such as triangles, rectangles, and squares. You’re also very likely to encounter angles, lines, and inscribed shapes (shapes within shapes).

On the GRE, geometry problems come in a variety of forms. You may encounter them as multiple-choice questions, Numeric Entry questions, or Quantitative Comparisons. Some may provide you with diagrams (not drawn to scale!) or a combination of numbers and letters.

With all of these different forms, how can you learn to recognize a geometry problem on the GRE? And how will you know how to solve it? First, let’s take a look at some of the basic rules and formulas.

 

61 GRE Geometry Formulas and Rules You Must Know

You can’t study GRE geometry without knowing what to study. Here is a list of the major rules and formulas you should have down by test day.

 

#1: Rules of Angles

• A straight line is equal to 180 degrees.
• An acute angle is any angle less than 90 degrees.
• An obtuse angle is any angle between 90 and 180 degrees.
• A right angle is equal to 90 degrees and is usually signified by a small square:

• The symbol ∠ is often used to denote an angle. For example: angle A=∠A.
• Two lines that intersect to create 90-degree angles are perpendicular to each other:

• Two lines that never intersect and have the same slope are parallel to each other:

• When two lines intersect, four angles are created:
  • opposite angles are equal in measure ($∠A=∠B$, $∠C=∠D$).
  • adjacent angles add up to 180 degrees ($∠A+∠D=180$, $∠A+∠C=180$, $∠B+∠D=180$, $∠B+∠C=180$).

• When a line intersects two parallel lines, eight angles are created:
  • corresponding angles are equal in measure.
  • alternate interior angles are equal in measure.
  • alternate exterior angles are equal in measure.
  • consecutive interior angles add up to 180 degrees.

 

#2: Squares

Rules

• All sides are equal in length.
• Opposite sides are parallel to each other.
• All interior angles are right angles.
• The perimeter is the total length of all sides.

 

Formulas

Perimeter

$P=4s$

• s = side

Area

$A=s^2$

 

#3: Rectangles

Rules

• Opposite sides are equal in length and parallel to each other.
• All interior angles are right angles.
• The perimeter is the total length of all sides.

 

Formulas

Perimeter

$P=2l+2w$

or

$P=2b+2h$

• l = length, w = width
• b = base (same as length), h = height (same as width)

Area

$A=lw$

or

$A=bh$

 

 

#4: Circles

Rules

• A circle is equal to 360 degrees.
• The circumference is the length around a circle (i.e., the perimeter of a circle).
• The radius (plural: radii) is the length from the middle of a circle to any point on the edge of a circle.
• The diameter is the length of any straight line cutting a circle in half (and passing through the center point).
• The radius is half the length of the diameter (and the diameter is twice the length of the radius). So, $2r=d$.
• π (pi) can be rounded to 3.14.
• An arc is all points between two points on the edge of a circle (AB).
• A sector is the (shaded) region enclosed by an arc and two radii (AOB).
• A central angle is the angle created by the intersection of two radii at the center of a circle (∠O).

 

Formulas

Circumference

$C=2πr$

or

$C=πd$

• r = radius, d = diameter

Area

$A=πr^2$

Length of an Arc

$$\arc \length=2πr{\central \angle \of \arc}/360$$

Area of a Sector

$$\area \of \sector=πr^2{\central \angle \of \sector}/360$$

 

 

#5: Triangles

Rules

• All interior angles add up to 180 degrees.
• There are three types of special triangles:
  • equilateral: all sides are equal in length, and all interior angles are 60 degrees.
  • isosceles: two sides are equal in length, and the two angles opposite the two equal sides are equal in measure.
  • right: a triangle with one right angle. The longest side (opposite the right angle) is the “hypotenuse,” and the two shorter sides are the “legs.”

 

Formulas

Pythagorean Theorem

$a^2+b^2=c^2$

• a = leg, b = leg, c = hypotenuse
• This theorem can only be used for right triangles.
• Certain triangle-side combinations (a:b:c) can be memorized. These are called Pythagorean triples. Common ones include:
  • 3:4:5
  • 5:12:13
  • 8:15:17

     

• There are also special right triangles:
  • 45-45-90 triangle (isosceles right triangle): a triangle with one right angle and two 45-degree angles. Both legs are equal in length, and the ratio of its sides is x:x:√2x.
  • 30-60-90 right triangle: interior angles are 30, 60, and 90 degrees. This type of triangle is equal to half of an equilateral triangle, and the ratio of its sides is x:√3x: 2x.

Area

$$A={1/2}bh$$

• b = base, h = height

 

 

 

#6: Trapezoids

Rules

• Opposite bases are parallel to each other.

 

Formulas

Area

$$A={1/2}(a+b)h$$

• a = $\base_1$, b = $\base_2$, h = height

 

#7: Parallelograms

Rules

• Opposite sides are equal in length and parallel to each other.
• Opposite angles are equal.

 

Formulas

Area

$A=bh$

• b = base, h = height

 

#8: Rectangular Solids

Rules

• Rectangular solids are 3-D objects with six faces.
• Cubes are a type of rectangular solid with six equal faces (i.e., six squares) that are equal in length on all sides and equal in area.
• The volume is the amount of space a 3-D object occupies.
• The surface area is the total area of all sides of a 3-D object.

 

Formulas

Volume

$V=lwh$

• l = length, w = width, h = height

Surface Area

$SA=2(lw+lh+wh)$

 

#9: Right Circular Cylinders

Rules

• Circular cylinders contain two congruent (identical) circular bases.
• The axis (the line running through the center of a cylinder) is perpendicular to the centers of its bases.

 

Formulas

Volume

$V=πr^2{h}$

• r = radius (of circular face), h = height

Surface Area

$SA=2{πr^2}+2πrh$

 

 

 

Resources and Tips for Your GRE Geometry Review

Geometry can be tricky to get right. Here are some tips for making your GRE geometry practice as helpful as possible.

 

#1: Memorize Key Concepts

Studying any math concept can be overwhelming at first, especially if you haven’t taken a math course in a while. But familiarizing yourself with some of the major geometry concepts should increase your confidence and ultimately help you perform well on any GRE geometry question that comes your way.

What are these key concepts? Here’s what you should strive to be an expert on before sitting for the GRE:

• Relationships between angles: Know exactly what an angle is, how it’s formed, and how it relates to other angles in a shape or when created by intersections of lines. Recognize any special properties associated with right angles. Additionally, remember that interior angles of triangles always add up to 180 degrees, a line equals 180 degrees, and a circle equals 360 degrees.

• Perimeter, area, and circumference: Have a clear understanding of the definitions of these terms and memorize their respective formulas for squares, rectangles, circles, and triangles. Although 3-D objects, trapezoids, and parallelograms are less commonly tested on the GRE, try to familiarize yourself with their rules and formulas, too.

• Pythagorean theorem: Memorize this theorem, as you’re extremely likely to use it at least once on the GRE.

• Special right triangles: Be able to recall the characteristics of special right triangles (45:45:90 and 30:60:90).

• π (pi): Don’t get confused if you see this symbol! Pi can be rounded to 3.14 to ease calculations.

• Definitions: Memorize the definitions of all basic geometry terms, such as radius, area, sector, etc. You can view a glossary of terms at the end of this article.

 

 

#2: Make Flashcards

One of the most effective ways to retain the key concepts of geometry (and other subjects) is to create flashcards. If you’re a fan of paper flashcards, write the formula, shape, or term on the front and its definition or explanation on the back. Always include diagrams or examples if possible so you have context for the concepts you’re learning.

You can also try making digital flashcards with a free downloadable software called Anki, which uses spaced-repetition software (SRS) to test you on difficult cards more often.

 

#3: Test Yourself With Realistic Practice Questions

To do well on Quant, and especially on GRE geometry problems, you must be aware of the exact types of questions you’ll encounter on test day. Realistic practice questions familiarize you with the types of geometry questions you’re likely to tackle on the GRE. And the more GRE geometry practice you do with GRE-like questions, the more quickly and accurately you should be able to answer such questions on test day.

Practice questions also expose you to the different ways geometry problems may be presented on the test. For example, not all geometry problems supply diagrams, and only occasionally do they tell you the exact formula you’ll need for solving a problem. So far, you’ve encountered a handful of sample practice questions in this article. All questions included here were taken directly from official ETS practice tests and are therefore extremely similar to the types of geometry questions on the actual GRE.

For additional practice questions, check out our articles on the best resources for math practice and where to find high-quality sample questions. You can also test your geometry knowledge using the free (and official) GRE practice tests listed in our guide.

 

 

How to Approach GRE Geometry on Test Day

If you’re new to the GRE, you’re probably wondering how you should approach geometry problems on test day so you don’t end up blanking or spending too much time on a single question. Let’s take a look at our best strategies for tackling GRE geometry questions effectively.

 

#1: Know What You Can and Cannot Assume

One technique you might’ve heard of is to estimate values using a given diagram. But this method is counterproductive because geometry diagrams on the GRE are not drawn to scale.

For example, look back at the sample question we covered in the section on circles. At a glance, you might assume point R is the center point of the largest circle; however, nowhere in the problem does it state this is the case. This lack of clarity in regard to the circle’s center point is how we ultimately know to focus on the diameter (which is clearly given to us as line PQ) instead of the radius.

Here are some other concepts and values you should refrain from assuming or visually estimating:

• Angles: If you’re not given sufficient info to be able to calculate a particular angle, don’t make any assumptions about its value (or even whether it’s acute or obtuse).

• Right angles: Don’t assume a shape contains a right angle unless it’s clearly denoted, either by a small square in the corner or in the wording of the problem itself. You can assume a shape has a right angle if it’s a natural quality of the shape. For example, if a problem describes a rectangular room (as the following practice question does), you can assume the room contains four right angles.

• Parallel lines: Never assume two lines are parallel unless specifically stated in the problem.

So what can you make assumptions about? Here are the areas of geometry that are perfectly OK to accept as they appear on the GRE:

• Any line appearing straight is assumed to be straight without any hidden bends or curves.

• Any shape appearing as a circle is a circle. Don’t expect to encounter ovals or other elliptical shapes.

• Any shape appearing as a polygon is a polygon. All 2-D shapes are closed shapes, with no gaps or overlapping lines (however, two shapes may overlap each other).

Lastly, all shapes and angles follow basic geometry rules. You won’t have to deal with any bizarre shapes or special geometry problems that don’t abide by the fundamental laws and formulas detailed above. Phew!

 

 

#2: Draw a Picture

Surprisingly, a lot of GRE geometry problems don’t supply you with diagrams, even when discussing key characteristics of shapes. The best way to tackle these problems, then, is to draw the shapes yourself. 

By doing so, you’ll get a clearer idea as to what the question is asking you to do and be better able to understand how the given values correspond to one another. Drawing a picture can also help you determine what formula you’ll need to use to solve a particular problem.

Previously, I drew my own triangle for the sample question above using the Pythagorean theorem. Here’s another example of a question you could draw a diagram for:

 

 

 

#3: Plug In Numbers

Certain questions, often Quantitative Comparisons, may give you geometry problems without offering any actual numbers or enough info to be able to plug in anything to a formula and solve it. Instead of assuming the answer is “D: The relationship cannot be determined from the information given,” try to first plug in made-up numbers to see what happens. This can also be done to verify a solution if you’ve already solved a problem using a different method.

If you look back at our previous sample question on circles, you’ll see we solved this equation by plugging in numbers and testing them out using the circumference formula. Here’s another example of how plugging in numbers can lend you a hand in solving a geometry problem:

 

 

#4: Approach Inscribed Shapes as Two Separate Shapes

Some problems in your GRE geometry practice or on test day may give you diagrams with one shape inscribed in another (as you can see with the sample question on circles above). A polygon inscribed in a circle or a circle inscribed in a polygon are two common combinations you’ll see on the GRE. When a shape is inscribed in a circle, it means the inscribed shape’s vertices are tangent to the circle.

The easiest way to approach these problems is by first analyzing each shape independently. Always use a shape’s respective formula to solve for whatever the question is asking, such as area, circumference, etc.

If a problem asks you to solve for the area of a part of the larger shape where the inscribed shape is absent (e.g., the shaded region in the image below), what it’s really asking you to do is set up a subtraction problem. To solve this kind of problem, simply calculate the areas, separately, of both the main shape and the inscribed shape using their respective area formulas, and then subtract the inscribed shape’s area from the main shape’s area.

 

GRE Geometry: Glossary of Common Terms

The GRE expects you to have familiarity with the definitions of several terms related to shapes, angles, and formulas. To cap off our GRE geometry review, I offer you a glossary of common geometry terms. Memorize all of them and you’re sure to understand the majority of geometry questions you encounter! All terms are listed in alphabetical order.

• acute angle: any angle smaller than 90 degrees
• arc: all points between two points on the edge of a circle
• area: the amount of space enclosed by a 2-D shape
• axis: the line segment of a right circular cylinder that joins the center points of the circular bases; also refers to the horizontal (x-axis) and vertical (y-axis) reference lines in a coordinate system
• central angle: the vertex at the center of a circle created by the intersection of two radii
• circumference: the length around a circle (i.e., the perimeter of a circle)
• congruent: equal to or the same as in shape and size
• cube: a type of rectangular solid with six square faces that are all the same length and width (and share equal areas)
• diameter: the length of a straight line cutting a circle in half and passing through the center; equal to double the radius
• equilateral triangle: a triangle with three sides of the same length and three 60-degree angles
• isosceles triangle: a triangle with two sides of the same length and two equal angles
• obtuse angle: any angle larger than 90 degrees and smaller than 180 degrees
• parallel lines: lines that never intersect and have the same slope
• perimeter: the total length around a shape (i.e., the sum of all sides)
• perpendicular lines: lines that intersect to form right angles
• polygon: any 2-D shape created by straight lines, including triangles, squares, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids
• quadrilateral: any four-sided polygon, such as squares, rectangles, parallelograms, and trapezoids
• radius (radii): the length of a straight line connecting the center of a circle to any point on the edge of the circle; equal to half the diameter
• rectangular solid: a 3-D object with six faces
• right angle: a 90-degree angle, usually designated by a small square
• right circular cylinder: a 3-D object with two congruent circular bases and an axis perpendicular to the centers of its bases
• right triangle: a triangle with a 90-degree angle, two legs (shorter sides), and a hypotenuse (the longest side)
• sector: any (shaded) region of a circle enclosed by an arc and two radii
• similar: two shapes with the exact same shape (and therefore the same angles) but different sizes; similar shapes share equal ratios of their sides and angles
• surface area: the total exterior area of a 3-D object
• tangent: a line or shape intersecting a shape at exactly one point
• vertex (vertices): the point at which two lines meet to form an angle
• volume: the space occupied by a 3-D object

 

What’s Next?

Looking to cover other Quant concepts besides geometry? Check out our exhaustive math review to learn more about what’s on the exam.

Geometry isn’t everything. Don’t forget to read our list of the most important formulas you’ll need for Quant.

Craving more math practice? Get tips and ideas on how to study for Quant using practice questions and tests. And for test-day strategies, read our guides on how to use your scratch paper and how to work the on-screen calculator.