SAT Subject Test Physics (2012)

APPENDIXES

APPENDIX A. MATHEMATICS REVIEW

It is often said that mathematics is the language of physics. Therefore, it is in your best interest to be comfortable with the basic math knowledge you will need to interpret and solve physics problems.

Algebra

Scientific notation: Any number can be written as a power of The first number must be

Exponents: Any number can be written in the form of a base number raised to a power.

Undefined values: A fraction is undefined when the denominator equals 0. is undefined when .

Factorial: The symbol n! represents the product of all positive integers from 1 to n.

Multiplication involving binomials (FOIL method): Distribute each value:

Logarithms: If , then .

Geometry

Equations of common shapes:

Line with slope m and y-intercept b: (slope-intercept)
(point-slope)

Circle with radius r centered at the origin:

Parabola whose vertex is at

Ellipse with semimajor axis a and semiminor axis

Pythagorean Theorem:

For a right triangle:

Area:

Triangle:

Rectangle:

Circle:

Sector of a circle:

Volume:

Prism:

Pyramid:

Cylinder:

Cone:

Sphere:

Trigonometry

Trigonometric functions:

Laws: