Geometry

Theory

2-dimensional (plane) and 3-dimensional (solid) geometry will be discussed in this chapter.
Sometimes, complex formulae will be given in the question itself, as SAT does not expect
one to remember all formulae. However all the important formulae will be discussed in
this chapter. Importantly, focus on the basic concepts and master the application part of
geometry.

PLANE GEOMETRY
Few Basic Terms and Properties
1. Acute angle: Angle less than 90°.
2. Right angle: Angle equal to 90°.
3. Obtuse angle: Angle greater than 90° and less than 180°.
4. Angle on a straight line is 180°. Angle about a point is 360°.
5. Supplementary angles: Two angles which add upto 180°.
6. Complementary angles: Two angles which add upto 90°.

7. Vertically Opposite angles: Two intersecting lines form 4 angles, and non-
adjacent angles are called vertically opposite angles . Vertically opposite angles
are equal.

8. Perpendicular Bisector: A line which bisects a line segment and is

perpendicular to it. Any point on perpendicular bisector is equidistant from the
end-points of the line segment.

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9. Angle Bisector: A line which bisects an angle. Any point on angle bisector is
equidistant from the arms of the angle.

Parallel lines
Lines that never intersect each other are called Parallel lines (denoted by symbol ||). If a
line intersects two parallel lines, then intersecting line is called Transversal. For the
resulting 8 angles, following terms are defined:

1. Corresponding Angles : Angles on the same side of transversal and same side
of parallel lines. Corresponding angles are equal.
e.g. ∠1 = ∠5, ∠2 = ∠6, and so on.
2. Alternate Interior Angles : Interior angles on alternate side of transversal.
Alternate Interior angles are equal.
e.g. ∠3 = ∠5 and ∠4 = ∠6.
3. Interior angles on the same side of transversal are supplementary.
e.g. ∠3 + ∠6 = 180° and ∠4 + ∠5 = 180°.

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Triangles
Figure obtained by joining three non-collinear points is called
Triangle (denoted by symbol Δ). Any triangle will satisfy these
properties:
1. Sum of all interior angles is 180°. It can also be
expressed as: Exterior angle is equal to sum of opposite
two interior angles. Exterior angle is the angle
supplementary to adjacent interior angle.
2. Sum of lengths of any 2 sides is always greater than the length of the third side.
It can also be said as: Difference between the lengths of any 2 sides is always
less than the length of the third side.
3. Greater angle has greater side opposite to it.
In ΔABC,
∠B > ∠C
Implies that, AC > AB.

Classification of Triangles (on the basis of sides)

1. Equilateral Triangle: Triangle in which all sides are equal. All interior angles
are also equal, and the measure of each of these is 60°. In short, it is a perfectly
symmetrical Triangle (Regular Triangle).
2. Isosceles Triangle: Triangle in which at least two of the sides are equal. Interior
angles opposite to equal sides are equal.
3. Scalene Triangle: Triangle in which no two sides are equal. All interior angles
are also not equal.

Classification of Triangles (on the basis of angles)

4. Right Triangle: Triangle in which one angle is equal to 90°. Side opposite to
largest angle (90°) is called hypotenuse.

Pythagorean theorem
Square of the length of the largest side = sum of the squares of the lengths of the remaining
2 sides.

In ΔABC,
AC2= AB2 + BC2

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5. Acute angled Triangle: Triangle in which all angles are less than 90°.

AC2 < AB2 + BC2

square of the length of the largest side < sum of the square of the lengths of the
remaining 2 sides
6. Obtuse angled Triangle: Triangle in which one angle is greater than 90°.

AC2 > AB2 + BC2

square of the the length of the largest side > sum of the lengths
of the remaining 2 sides,

Formulae

Area of a triangle = × base × height

Area of an equilateral triangle = × side2

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Two very important Right triangles
1. 30° – 60° – 90° triangle: Right angled triangle in
which two of the angles are 30° and 60° (then third
angle has to be 90°). An equilateral triangle can
be formed by joining two identical 30° – 60° – 90°
triangles side by side.

Hence, if length of AC is x, then length of BC is

and length of AB is (by Pythagorean

theorem), i.e.

Length of the side opposite to 30° = Half of the length of the hypotenuse,
and

Length of the side opposite to 60° = × (Length of the side opposite to

30°)
Length of the sides of 30° – 60° – 90° triangle are in the ratio of 1 : : 2.

2. 45° – 45° – 90° triangle : Right angled triangle in

which two of the angles are 45° each (then third
angle has to be 90°). Since it is an isosceles triangle,
sides opposite to 45° (AB and BC) are equal. Hence,
if length of AB = BC = x, then length of AC is x
(by using Pythagorean theorem), i.e.

Length of the Hypotenuse = × (Length of the

equal sides).
Length of sides of 45° – 45° – 90° triangle are
in the ratio of 1 : 1 : .

Example
Triangle formed by sides of length 3, 4 and 5 is:
(A) Right triangle (B) Acute angled triangle
(C) Obtuse angled triangle (D) Can’t be determined
Solution
Square of the length of the largest side = 52 = 25
Sum of the squares of the lengths of the remaining 2 sides = 32 + 42 = 25
Since, square of the length of the largest side = Sum of the square of the lengths
of the remaining 2 sides.
⇒ Triangle is Right angled triangle.

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Example
Triangle formed by sides of length 4, 5 and 7 is:
(A) Right triangle (B) Acute angled triangle
(C) Obtuse angled triangle (D) Can’t be determined
Solution
Square of the length of the largest side = 72 = 49
Sum of the squares of the length of the remaining 2 sides = 42 + 52 = 41
Since, square of the length of the largest side > Sum of the squares of the lengths
of the remaining 2 sides.
⇒ Triangle is obtuse angled triangle.

Example
In a triangle, lengths of two of the sides are 6 and 12. Which of the following can be the
third side of triangle?
(A) 3 (B) 6
(C) 9 (D) 18
Solution
In any triangle, sum of the lengths of two sides > length of the third side
⇒ (12 + 6) > length of the third side.
⇒ Length of the third side < 18. So, option (D) can be eliminated.

Also, the difference between the lengths of two sides < length of the third side
⇒ (12 – 6 ) < length of the third side.
⇒ Length of the third side > 6.
So, options (A) and (B) can also be eliminated.

Hence, 9 can be the length of the third side.

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Similarity
Two triangles are said to be Similar, if interior angles of one triangle are respectively
equal to interior angles of the other triangle. For e.g. consider following two triangles:

Let ∠A = ∠P; ∠B = ∠Q; and ∠C = ∠R.

Therefore, ΔABC is similar to ΔPQR. In similar triangles, every respective dimension (i.e.
length) increases or decreases by the same factor.

z In similar triangles, lengths of the sides opposite to equal angles are proportional.
For e.g., in above 2 triangles: BC is proportional to QR; AC is proportional to
PR; and AB is proportional to PQ; i.e.

BC AC AB
= = = k (constant ratio)
QR PR PQ

z In similar triangles, ratio of areas is equal to square of ratio of any two

corresponding sides. For e.g., in above two triangles:

= k2

Example
In a triangle, two sides are of lengths 8 and 10. What
would be the maximum area of the triangle?
Solution
Choose one of the sides (say BC = 10) as the base. Now,
to maximize area, height of the triangle is to be
maximized.
As the angle between given sides AB and BC increases,
height of the triangle also increases. When the angle becomes 90°, height is maximum (if
the ∠ABC increases further, height will start decreasing). Hence, for maximum area, angle
between given sides must be 90°.

⇒ Maximum area = × 10 × 8 = 40 square units

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Quadrilaterals
Quadrilateral is a polygon with four sides and four vertices. In any quadrilateral, sum of all
interior angles is 360°.
Types of quadrilateral

Figure Definition and Properties Area of the figure

Quadrilateral with one pair of parallel

× (sum of parallel sides)
sides.
× (distance between them)
z Parallel sides are called bases and
Trapezoid non-parallel sides are called legs.

Quadrilateral in which opposite sides are

parallel.
z Opposite angles and sides are base × height
equal.
Parallelogram
z Diagonals bisect each other.

Quadrilateral in which all sides are

equal. (which means opposite sides are
equal, and hence it is a parallelogram) × (product of
z Diagonals are perpendicular to diagonals)
each other.
Rhombus
z Diagonals are angle bisectors.

Quadrilateral in which all interior

angles are equal, i.e. 90° (which means
opposite angles are equal, and hence it length × breadth
is a parallelogram)
Rectangle
z Diagonals are equal.

Quadrilateral in which all interior

angles and all sides are equal.
z All properties of rectangle and side2 or diagonal2
rhombus.

Square z It is a regular quadrilateral.

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Polygon
Closed figure obtained by joining n non-collinear points, where
n > 2, is called Polygon. n is the number of vertices, and the
number of sides. A polygon in which all sides are equal and all
angles are also equal is called Regular Polygon. Any polygon will
satisfy these properties:

1. Sum of all interior angles is (n – 2) × 180°.

2. Sum of all exterior angles is 360°.

3. Number of Diagonals = .

Some common names of polygons: A polygon with 3 sides is called triangle; 4 sided is called
quadrilateral; 5 sided is called pentagon; 6 sided is called hexagon; 7 sided is called heptagon;
8 sided is called octagon; 9 sided is called nonagon; and 10 sided is called decagon.

Circles
Figure obtained by joining all points which are equidistance from a fixed point is called
Circle.

z The fixed point is called center (O). Distance of the points from center is called
radius (OA).
z Line segment joining any 2 points on the circle is called chord (PQ). Longest
chord is diameter. Prependicular from center bisects a chord (i.e. PR = RQ).
z Line that intersects the circle at one point is called tangent (line l). Tangent is
prependicular to the radius at point of tangency.

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z Segment of a circle is called arc (AB). Area formed by an arc and 2 radii at the
endpoints of it is called sector (area AOB). θ is the angle subtended by the arc at
the center.
Perimeter of a sector = Length of the arc + Length of 2 radii at the end-points

Formulae
Circumference of a circle = 2πr
Area of a circle = πr2

Length of the arc = × 2πr

Area of a sector = × πr2

z Arc is part of circumference of a circle. For e.g. APB is an arc of the circle. Angle
subtended by an arc at the center from any two points on circle is always twice
the angle subtended on opposite arc from same two points.

Let arc APB subtends angle 2θ at the center. Then, arc APB subtends θ anywhere
in arc AQ1Q2Q3B.
z Angle inside a semicircle is 90°. Property can also be said as: If a circle is drawn
passing through all vertices of a right triangle, then hypotenuse is the diameter
of that circle. Hence, midpoint of hypotenuse is the center of the circle.

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Example
In adjoining figure, O is the center of the circle. If ∠OAC is 20° and ∠OBC is 30°, find
∠AOB.

Solution
If OC is joined, then ΔAOC and ΔBOC are two isosceles
triangles.
(Since OA = OC = OB = r, i.e. radius of circle)
∠OAC = ∠OCA = 20°; and ∠OBC = ∠OCB = 30°.
∴ ∠ACB = 20° + 30° = 50°, i.e. minor arc AB subtends 50° in
the alternate segment. Hence, at center, minor arc AB
subtends 100°, i.e. ∠AOB = 100°.

3 – Dimensional Geometry

Surface Area
Name and
Figure Volume (C.S.A. ≡ Curved
Terminology
Surface Area)
(T.S.A. ≡ Total
Surface Area)

Cuboid
l = Length
b = Breadth
l×b×h T.S.A = 2(lb + bh + lh)
h = Height
d = Diagonal

d = l 2 + b2 + h2

(Body diagonal)

Cube
a = Edge length a
3
T.S.A = 6a
2

d= a
(Body diagonal)

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 Cylinder
2
r = Base radius πr h C.S.A. = 2πrh
T.S.A. = 2πr(h + r)
h = Height

Right Circular
Cone
r = Base radius 2
πr h C.S.A. = πrl
h = Height T.S.A. = πr(l + r)

l= r 2 + h2
(Slant height)

Sphere 3
πr T.S.A = 4πr
2
r = Radius

2
3 C.S.A. = 2πr
Hemisphere πr 2
T.S.A. = 3πr
r = Radius

Example
Volume of a right circular cylinder is 60 litres. If radius of cylinder is doubled, then what
will be the increase in the volume?
Solution
∴ Volume of a cylinder is πr2h.
If the radius (r) is doubled, volume will become 4 times.
New volume of cylinder is π( πr2h.
π(2r)2.h = 4π
New volume will become 4 times the volume of original cylinder.
⇒ New volume = 4 × 60 = 240 l
Increase in volume = 240 – 60 = 180 l

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Common Notations and Symbols

In the figure above, the xy-plane has origin O. The values of x on the horizontal x-axis
increase as you move to the right, and the values of y on the vertical y-axis increase as you
move up.
Lines k and p are parallel i.e., they never meet. This is expressed as k | | p .
You will also need to know the following notation:

f SH: the line containing the points S and H (this is the same as line k)

f SH or segment SH: the line segment with endpoints S and H

f SH : the length of segment SH (you can write SH = 2 )

f SH : the ray starting at point S and extending indefinitely in the direction of H

f HS : the ray starting at point H and extending indefinitely in the direction of S

f ∠ LOG : the angle formed by OL and OG

f m∠ LOG : the measure of ∠ LOG (you can write m∠ LOG = 90o)

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f ΔSHM : the triangle with vertices S, H, and M.

f MSBO : the quadrilateral with vertices M, S, B, and O

f MS ⊥ SB : segment MS is perpendicular to segment SB (you should also

recognize that the small square within MSB means this angle is a right angle)

You should also be familiar with notation for arcs and circles for the SAT:
A circle may be named by the point at its center. So, the center of a circle M would be
point M.

An arc is expressed by its two endpoints, such as AB, will always refer to a minor arc. A
minor arc has a measure that is less than 180°.

An arc may also be named with three points: the two endpoints and a third point that the
arc passes through. So, ACB has endpoints at A and B and passes through point C. Three
points may be used to name any kind of arc, be it minor arc, major arc, or semi – circle.

REMEMBER
Figures are drawn to scale on the SAT Math Test unless explicitly stated otherwise. If
a question states that a figure is not drawn to scale, be careful not to make unwarranted
assumptions about the figure.

In general, even in figures not drawn to scale, the relative positions of points and angles
may be assumed to be in the order shown. Also, line segments that extend through points
and appear to lie on the same line may be assumed to be on the same line. A point that
appears to lie on a line or curve may be assumed to lie on the line or curve.

The text “Note: Figure not drawn to scale.” is included with the figure when degree measures
may not be accurately shown and specific lengths may not be drawn proportionally.

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Geometry
Class Exercise

Note : Figure not drawn to scale.

If O is the centre of the circle shown In the quadilateral shown above,

above and OP = PQ = QR, what is the AB = AD = 10 and BC = CD = 5. Which
value of x ? of the following can be the measure
of angle BAD?
a) 15
a) 45
b) 30
b) 60
c) 45
c) 75
d) 60
d) 90

Figure above is a regular hexagon

In the figure above, O is the center of with length of each side as 5 units.
the circle. The measure of angle ACO Calculate:
is 30O. What is the degree measure of
(i) Area of the hexagon
the angle ABC?
(ii) Height of the hexagon
(iii) Length of the largest diagonal

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In the above figure, if QS = 6 and
PS = 8, then what is the length of the
segment SR?

The logo of a company X is made by

th
placing of the circumference of a
circle with radius 4 units on top of a
square, as shown in the figure above.
If two sides of a triangle are 6 and 8,
which of the following cannot be the What is the perimeter of the logo?
area of the triangle?
a) 0.01
b) 5
A right circular cylinder with radius
c) 10
6 units and height 10 units is placed
d) 25
upright and is filled by water upto th
of its volume. An iron cone of radius
3 units and height 4 units is then
completely submerged in the cylinder.
By how many units does the water
level rise?

a) units

b) units

c) 1 units

d) units

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Geometry
Post-Class Practice

One of the side of a triangle is 9 units

and the other side is 7 units. Which
of the following cannot be the area of
the triangle?
a) 2
b) 10
c) 31
d) 32
In the figure above, r is the radius of
the circle and ABCD is a square.What
is the area of shaded region in terms
of r ?

In the figure above, ΔABC is an

equilateral triangle, D & E are mid
points of AB and BC respectively.
What is the perimeter of ΔAEB?

a) 1.5 + 0.5
b) 2.5

c) 1.5 +

d) 3+

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 In the figure above, AB = AC and CE
bisects the angle at the vertex C. If
In the figure above, line c intersects ∠BAC = 4x, then z = ?
the two lines a and b which are
prependicular to each other. a) 60ο

Which of the following is/are true for b) 75ο

the 8 angles thus formed ? c) 90ο
I. ∠1 + ∠6 = 90ο d) 105ο
II. ∠2 + ∠4 = 180ο
III. ∠4 + ∠7 = 270ο
a) I only
b) II only
c) I and II
d) I and III

In the figure above, side of equilateral

ΔABC is of length 4 units. D is the
mid point of BC and E is the mid point
of AC. What is the area of ΔADE?

a) – 0.5

b)

c) 2 –1

d) 2

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In a monster truck, diameter of a rear
wheel is thrice the diameter of the
front wheel. In 10 seconds if the truck
travels 100 meters such that the front
wheel made 42 revolutions, what
number of revolutions did the rear
wheel make?
a) 14
b) 21
In the figure above, A and B are the
b) 42 centers of the two circles. If the
d) 126 distance between A and B is 2 units,
then what is the area, in square units,
of the shaded region ?

a)

b)

c)

d)

In the figure above, what is the area

of ΔABC?
a) 32

b) 32
c) 64

d) 64

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 In the figure above, a, b, and c are
the angles shown in ΔPQR and ΔRST.
What is the value of c in terms of a
and b?
a) 360 – 2a – b
If PQRS is a quadrilateral, what is
b) 360 – a – 2b
the value of (in degrees)
∠a + ∠b + ∠c + ∠d + ∠e + ∠f + ∠g + ∠h? c) 180 – a – 2b
a) 540° d) 180 – 2a – b
b) 450°
c) 360°
d) 270°

In a square, doubling every side

increases the area by 27 units. What
is the length of side of the newly
formed square?
ABCD is a parallelogram. E is the mid
a) 3
point of BC. If area of ΔDBE = , what
b) 6
is the area of the parallelogram?
c) 9
a) 7
d) 18
b) 14
c) 21
d) 28

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If BD = 2.5 units, what is the length The figure above is a regular hexagon.
of BE? Which of the following measures
would be individually sufficient to
a) 1.25 determine the length of the side of the
hexagon?
b) 5
I. Length of PQ
c) 6.8
II. Area of ΔQRS
d) 7.5
III. Perimeter of ΔPQR

a) I only
b) I and II only
c) I and III only
d) I, II and III

What is the value of ?

a) 65
b) 80
c) 100
d) 135

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 In the figure above, midpoints of the
Which of the following has equal sides of a square are joined to form
volume as the right circular cone another smaller square, and the same
shown above if y is both the height process is repeated 5 times. If the area
and the diameter of the base? of the smallest shaded square is 2,
what is the area of the largest square?
a) A hemisphere with radius a) 16
b) 32
b) A sphere with radius
c) 64
c) A cylinder with height = y and
d) 128
radius of base =

d) A cylinder with height = and

radius of base = y

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The cone shown above is cut by a
plane parallel to the base to form a
The figure above shows a sphere of
new smaller cone. If volume of the
radius 3 units. An ant sitting at point
A has to walk to the point B, which is
smaller cone is th of the volume of
diametrically opposite to the point A.
the original cone, what is the curved What is the shortest possible distance
the ant has to walk?
surface area of the smaller cone?
a) 3
a) 15π
b) 6
b) 24π
c) 3π
c) 30π
d) 6π
d) 40π

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 A sphere of radius 2 rolls without
slipping on a semi-circular track of
radius 76. The sphere starts at point
A and rolls till the point B. What is
the number of revolutions the sphere
In the figure shown above, l || m || n. makes to go from A to B?
If x = 120o, y = 100o, what is the value
a) 18
of z ?
b) 19
a) 20
c) 28
b) 40
d) 38
c) 60
d) 80

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In the figure AB || DC. E is the mid
point of DC, and AB = DE = 7 units.
If the area of triangle BCE = 36
square units, then what is the area
of ΔABD?
a) 18
b) 24
c) 36 If AE ⊥ CE and BD ⊥ CD, then which
of the following is the value of x if
d) 48
AE = BE ?
a) 10
b) 20
c) 40
d) 50

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 In a rectangular box, if area of one of
the faces is 35 square feet and volume
is 140 cubic feet, then find the surface
area, given that lengths of all the
sides is integral value greater than
1.

What is the value of the fraction

, if PQRS and PTUV are

parallellograms?

In the right angled triangle PQR In the figure above, AB ⊥ CD and line
l intersets the two lines at O as
drawn above, . What is the shown. What is the value of a – b ?
value of a?
a) 50
b) 60
c) 70
d) 80

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Points A, B, and C lie in a plane. The
distance between A and B is 11 and
the distance between B and C is 4.
Which of the following cannot be the
distance between A and C?
I) 5
II) 10
III) 14
IV) 16
A boy has tied a stone at the end of a
rope and starts rotating it in a circle
a) I only of radius 2 feet at a rate of 180
revolutions per minute as shown in
b) II only the figure above. What is the distance
c) I and III only travelled by the stone in 10 seconds ?

d) I and IV only a) 90π

b) 120π
c) 150π
d) 180π

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 A tent illustrated above is in the
shape of triangular prism and is made
The cone shown above is to be cut by up of nylon. Its base and two inclined
a plane parallel to the base to form a surfaces are rectangles.
smaller cone. If the diameter of the
a) What is the amount of air inside
base of the smaller cone is 6, what is
the tent?
the slant height of the smaller cone?
b) How many square feet of nylon
a) 3
is required to make the tent?
b) 4
c) 5
d) 10

A pyramid with square base lies on

the base of the hemisphere as shown
in the figure below. If the diameter of
the hemisphere is 10 feet, find the
volume of the pyramid.

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