TEAS math formulas: the formula sheet and conversions to know
The TEAS math section has no formula sheet you can count on, so you need about 20 formulas and 25 conversions by heart: fractions, percents, ratios, one-variable equations, mean and median, perimeter, area, circumference, volume, and metric, US and temperature conversions. They are all below, each with a worked example, in the order the 34 scored math questions use them: numbers and algebra (18 questions) and measurement and data (16) (ATI exam details).
The section is 38 questions in 57 minutes, about 90 seconds a question, with a calculator built into the exam (you can't bring your own). The calculator does the arithmetic; it doesn't tell you which formula to use. That is what this page is for, with 10 practice questions and a 10-day plan at the end.
What math is on the TEAS test?
| Content area | Scored questions | What it covers | Formulas you use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers and algebra | 18 | Fractions, decimals and percents; ordering numbers; ratios and proportions; one-step and multi-step word problems; expressions, equations and inequalities with one variable | Fraction rules, percent, percent change, proportion, order of operations, solving for x |
| Measurement and data | 16 | Reading tables, charts and graphs; mean, median, mode and range; how two variables relate; perimeter, area, circumference and volume; converting within and between metric and US units | Statistics, geometry, conversions |
| Total | 34 scored + 4 unscored = 38 | 57 minutes; on-screen calculator | |
Counts, minutes and the calculator are ATI's (what is on the TEAS test has the whole exam). The topic list follows ATI's two content area names and the topics prep publishers list under them (Mometrix, Practice Test Geeks).
Does the TEAS give you a formula sheet?
Don't plan on one. ATI's help page on the formulas to know points to operations with fractions and decimals and to its own study manual, and does not promise a sheet on the exam (ATI: what formulas do I need to know). Applicants' reports differ on whether a question shows a conversion factor when it needs one. The safe plan is to know every formula and conversion on this page, so a question that gives one is a bonus, not a rescue. Our math practice test gives a factor only where you may not know it by heart; everything on this page it expects you to know.
The TEAS math formula sheet
Every formula in one place. Copy this table by hand once; writing it is part of learning it.
| Topic | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Add or subtract fractions | Common denominator, then add the tops: a/b + c/d = (ad + bc) / bd | 1/4 + 2/3 = 3/12 + 8/12 = 11/12 |
| Multiply fractions | Tops times tops, bottoms times bottoms | 2/3 × 3/5 = 6/15 = 2/5 |
| Divide fractions | Flip the second, then multiply | 3/4 ÷ 1/2 = 3/4 × 2/1 = 3/2 = 1 1/2 |
| Mixed number to fraction | (whole × bottom + top) / bottom | 2 3/5 = 13/5 |
| Fraction to decimal | Top ÷ bottom | 3/8 = 0.375 |
| Decimal to percent | × 100 | 0.375 = 37.5% |
| Percent of a number | Part = percent × whole | 15% of 80 = 0.15 × 80 = 12 |
| What percent | Percent = part ÷ whole × 100 | 12 of 80 = 12 ÷ 80 × 100 = 15% |
| Find the whole | Whole = part ÷ percent | 12 is 15% of 12 ÷ 0.15 = 80 |
| Percent change | (new − old) ÷ old × 100 | 50 to 65: 15 ÷ 50 × 100 = 30% increase |
| Ratio and proportion | a/b = c/d, so a × d = b × c | 3/12 = x/28 → 12x = 84 → x = 7 |
| Order of operations | Parentheses, exponents, multiply and divide left to right, add and subtract left to right | 6 + 2 × (5 − 1)² = 6 + 2 × 16 = 38 |
| One-variable equation | Undo + and −, then × and ÷, the same on both sides | 3x + 7 = 22 → 3x = 15 → x = 5 |
| Inequality | Like an equation, but flip the sign when you multiply or divide by a negative | −2x > 8 → x < −4 |
| Mean | Sum ÷ count | 4, 7, 7, 10 → 28 ÷ 4 = 7 |
| Median | Middle value in order; with an even count, the average of the two middle values | 3, 5, 8, 10 → (5 + 8) ÷ 2 = 6.5 |
| Mode | The value that appears most | 2, 4, 4, 9 → 4 |
| Range | Largest − smallest | 2, 4, 4, 9 → 7 |
| Rectangle | Perimeter P = 2l + 2w; area A = l × w | 8 by 5: P = 26, A = 40 |
| Square | P = 4s; A = s² | side 6: P = 24, A = 36 |
| Triangle | A = ½ × base × height; angles add to 180° | base 10, height 4: A = 20 |
| Circle | Circumference C = 2πr = πd; area A = πr²; π ≈ 3.14 | r = 3: C ≈ 18.84, A ≈ 28.26 |
| Rectangular box | Volume V = l × w × h | 4 × 3 × 2 = 24 cubic units |
| Cylinder | V = πr²h | r = 2, h = 5: V ≈ 62.8 |
| Rate, distance, time | Distance = rate × time | 60 mph for 2.5 h = 150 miles |
These are standard math definitions; the examples are ours. Remember area and volume are in square and cubic units (cm², cm³), perimeter and circumference in plain units.
Fractions, decimals and percents
This is the largest single skill on the section: ordering a mix of fractions, decimals and percents, converting between them, and using percents in word problems. Learn these equivalents so you don't need the calculator for them:
| Fraction | Decimal | Percent | Fraction | Decimal | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.5 | 50% | 1/8 | 0.125 | 12.5% |
| 1/3 | 0.333… | 33.3% | 3/8 | 0.375 | 37.5% |
| 2/3 | 0.666… | 66.7% | 1/10 | 0.1 | 10% |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 25% | 1/20 | 0.05 | 5% |
| 3/4 | 0.75 | 75% | 1/25 | 0.04 | 4% |
| 1/5 | 0.2 | 20% | 1/100 | 0.01 | 1% |
Ordering. To put 0.45, 3/8, 42% and 2/5 in order, change them all to decimals: 0.45, 0.375, 0.42, 0.4. Smallest to largest: 3/8, 2/5, 42%, 0.45.
Percent word problems. Name the part, the whole and the percent, then use one of the three percent formulas. "A patient drank 360 mL of a 480 mL bottle. What percent?" Part 360, whole 480: 360 ÷ 480 × 100 = 75%.
Two percent changes in a row don't add. A $40 item marked up 10% then down 10% is $44 then $39.60, not $40.
Ratios, proportions and rates
Set up the two ratios with the same units in the same places, then cross-multiply.
- Scale: A map uses 1 inch for 25 miles. Two towns are 3.4 inches apart: 1/25 = 3.4/x → x = 85 miles.
- Recipe or dose: 2 tablets per 50 kg. For 75 kg: 2/50 = x/75 → 50x = 150 → x = 3 tablets.
- Ratio to a part: Boys to girls is 3:5 in a class of 32. There are 8 parts, each 32 ÷ 8 = 4, so 12 boys and 20 girls.
- Unit rate: 4 bottles for $6 is $1.50 a bottle; compare unit rates to find the better buy.
These look like nursing dosage math, and the method is the same, but the TEAS tests the arithmetic, not clinical dosing.
Algebra: expressions, equations and inequalities
- Translate words into math. "Five less than twice a number is 17": 2n − 5 = 17, so n = 11. "Less than" flips the order: "5 less than x" is x − 5.
- Solve for x. Undo addition and subtraction first, then multiplication and division: 4(x − 2) = 20 → x − 2 = 5 → x = 7.
- Evaluate an expression. Put the value in with parentheses: 3a² − 2a for a = −2 is 3(4) − 2(−2) = 12 + 4 = 16.
- Inequalities. Solve like an equation; flip the sign only when you multiply or divide by a negative. Read "at least" as ≥ and "no more than" as ≤.
- Check by substituting. Put your answer back into the original. On a multiple-choice question you can also try each choice.
Data: mean, median, mode, range and graphs
Measurement and data questions often give a table or chart and ask for one of these, or for what the data shows.
- Find a missing value from a mean. Four scores average 80 and three of them are 72, 85 and 90: the total must be 4 × 80 = 320, so the fourth is 320 − 247 = 73.
- Median needs order. Sort first. Most median misses come from taking the middle of an unsorted list.
- Outliers pull the mean, not the median. In 3, 4, 5, 5, 48 the mean is 13, the median 5.
- Two variables. On a scatter plot, points rising left to right are a positive relationship; falling is negative; no pattern is none. A relationship doesn't prove one causes the other.
- Graphs. Read the title, axis labels and scale before the bars. Many wrong choices use a bar's height on a scale that doesn't start at zero, or the wrong year.
TEAS math conversions: the conversion chart
Conversions within and between the metric and US systems are part of measurement and data. US customary and metric relations below are from NIST, the US standards agency (NIST approximate conversions; NIST metric prefixes).
| Type | Conversion |
|---|---|
| Metric prefixes | kilo = 1,000; hecto = 100; deka = 10; base unit; deci = 0.1; centi = 0.01; milli = 0.001; micro = 0.000001 |
| Metric length | 1 km = 1,000 m; 1 m = 100 cm = 1,000 mm; 1 cm = 10 mm |
| Metric mass | 1 kg = 1,000 g; 1 g = 1,000 mg; 1 mg = 1,000 mcg |
| Metric volume | 1 L = 1,000 mL; 1 mL = 1 cm³ (cc) |
| US length | 1 ft = 12 in; 1 yd = 3 ft = 36 in; 1 mile = 5,280 ft |
| US weight | 1 lb = 16 oz; 1 ton = 2,000 lb |
| US volume | 1 tbsp = 3 tsp; 1 fl oz = 2 tbsp; 1 cup = 8 fl oz; 1 pint = 2 cups; 1 quart = 2 pints; 1 gallon = 4 quarts |
| Between systems: length | 1 in = 2.54 cm (exact); 1 mile ≈ 1.61 km; 1 m ≈ 3.28 ft |
| Between systems: weight | 1 kg ≈ 2.2 lb; 1 oz ≈ 28.35 g |
| Between systems: volume | 1 fl oz ≈ 29.57 mL (often rounded to 30 mL); 1 tsp ≈ 5 mL; 1 tbsp ≈ 15 mL; 1 L ≈ 1.06 qt; 1 gal ≈ 3.79 L |
| Temperature | °F = (°C × 9/5) + 32; °C = (°F − 32) × 5/9 |
| Time | 1 h = 60 min; 1 day = 24 h; 1 week = 7 days |
How to convert without slips. Multiply by a fraction worth 1, with the unit you want on top: 150 lb × (1 kg / 2.2 lb) ≈ 68.2 kg. Moving down to a smaller unit makes the number bigger; if it got smaller, you flipped the fraction. In metric, move the decimal one place per prefix step: 3.5 kg = 3,500 g; 450 mg = 0.45 g.
Temperature check. 37 °C × 9/5 = 66.6, + 32 = 98.6 °F. 212 °F and 100 °C are water's boiling point; use them to test your formula before you trust it.
Geometry: perimeter, area and volume
- Perimeter is the fence; area is the lawn; volume is the water in the pool. Decide which one the question wants before you reach for a formula.
- Compound shapes. Split an L-shaped room into two rectangles, find each area, then add. For a shape with a cut-out, subtract.
- Radius vs diameter. The diameter is twice the radius. A circle "10 cm across" has r = 5 and area ≈ 3.14 × 25 = 78.5 cm².
- Units. A room 12 ft by 15 ft is 180 square feet. Converting square units squares the factor: 1 yd² = 9 ft², so 180 ft² = 20 yd².
- Volume to capacity. 1 cm³ = 1 mL, so a box 10 cm × 10 cm × 10 cm holds 1,000 mL, or 1 L.
10 TEAS math practice questions using these formulas
Our own questions, written in the style of the two content areas; they are not ATI's items. Give yourself 15 minutes (90 seconds each). Use a basic calculator only.
- Which is largest: 5/8, 0.6, 61%, or 3/5?
- A jacket costs $64 after a 20% discount. What was the original price?
- Solve: 5x − 9 = 2x + 12.
- A clinic saw 120 patients on Monday and 150 on Tuesday. What is the percent increase?
- A patient weighs 165 lb. What is that in kilograms, to the nearest tenth?
- Five quiz scores are 78, 85, 92, 85 and 70. Find the median and the mode.
- A circular rug has a diameter of 8 ft. What is its area? (π ≈ 3.14)
- Convert 39 °C to °F.
- A recipe uses 3 cups of flour for 24 cookies. How many cups for 40 cookies?
- A box measures 20 cm × 10 cm × 5 cm. How many liters does it hold?
Worked answers
- 5/8. As decimals: 0.625, 0.6, 0.61, 0.6. Change everything to one form before comparing.
- $80. $64 is 80% of the original: 64 ÷ 0.80 = 80. Taking 20% of $64 and adding it ($76.80) is the classic trap.
- x = 7. Subtract 2x: 3x − 9 = 12; add 9: 3x = 21; divide by 3.
- 25%. (150 − 120) ÷ 120 × 100. Divide by the old value, not the new one (30 ÷ 150 = 20% is the trap).
- 75.0 kg. 165 ÷ 2.2 = 75. Pounds to kilograms makes the number smaller.
- Median 85, mode 85. In order: 70, 78, 85, 85, 92. The middle value is 85, and 85 appears twice.
- 50.24 ft². r = 4, so A = 3.14 × 16. Using the diameter as the radius gives 200.96, four times too big.
- 102.2 °F. 39 × 9/5 = 70.2, + 32 = 102.2.
- 5 cups. 3/24 = x/40 → 24x = 120 → x = 5.
- 1 L. 20 × 10 × 5 = 1,000 cm³ = 1,000 mL = 1 L.
Missed one? Go back to its section above, then do five more like it. For 24 more questions with worked answers, take our TEAS math practice test.
A 10-day plan to learn the TEAS math formulas
| Day | Learn | Practise (about 40 minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fraction rules; the equivalents table | 20 fraction problems without the calculator; write the equivalents table from memory |
| 2 | The three percent formulas; percent change | 15 word problems; name part, whole and percent before solving |
| 3 | Ratios, proportions, unit rates | 15 problems; always write units in the proportion |
| 4 | Order of operations; equations; inequalities | 20 problems; check each answer by substituting |
| 5 | Timed mixed set: numbers and algebra | 18 questions in 27 minutes; log every miss by formula |
| 6 | Mean, median, mode, range; graphs | 10 data sets, 5 charts; sort before every median |
| 7 | Metric prefixes; US units | Write the conversion chart from memory; 20 conversions |
| 8 | Between systems; temperature | 15 conversions by the fraction method; check with 37 °C = 98.6 °F |
| 9 | Perimeter, area, circumference, volume | 15 problems incl. compound shapes and radius vs diameter |
| 10 | Full timed section | 38 questions in 57 minutes; redo every miss the next day |
On test day, once the math section is open, jotting the two or three factors you tend to forget on your scratch sheet takes under a minute. For a plan that fits math into the whole exam, see the four-week TEAS plan or how to study for the TEAS in a week.
What math score do nursing programs ask for?
Most programs set one overall minimum. Some also set a math minimum. From the programs in our list:
| Program | Math minimum | Other numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Virginia CC, Diagnostic Medical Sonography | 70% | Reading, Science, English 70% |
| Northern Virginia CC, Nursing (RN) | 65% | Reading 73%, Science 58%, English 62% |
| Middlesex Community College, Nursing | 60% | Reading, Science, English 60% |
| Washtenaw CC, Associate Degree RN | 60% | Reading 70%, Science 45%, English 60% |
| North Central Texas College, Vocational Nursing | 50% | Reading, Science, English 50%; 58.7% overall |
| Northern Virginia CC, Radiography | 50% | Reading, Science, English 50% |
With 34 scored questions, each is worth about 2.9 percentage points of your math score before ATI's adjustment between test forms. The TEAS score calculator turns your correct answers into section percents; what TEAS score you need has all 56 programs.
Mistakes that cost points on TEAS math
- Dividing by the new value in percent change. Always the old value.
- Adding the discount back. To find an original price, divide by the percent that's left.
- Using the diameter as the radius. Halve it first.
- Flipping a conversion. Kilograms are fewer than pounds; milliliters are more than liters. Ask "should the number get bigger or smaller?"
- Forgetting to flip an inequality after dividing by a negative.
- Median of an unsorted list.
- Leaning on the calculator for fractions. The on-screen calculator gives decimals; if the choices are fractions, work in fractions.
- Mixing units. A 2 m by 50 cm rectangle is 2 × 0.5 = 1 m², not 100.
TEAS math formulas FAQ
Do you get a formula sheet on the TEAS?
Don't count on one. ATI's help page lists the skills and points to its study manual; it doesn't promise a formula sheet. Learn the formulas and conversions above.
Does TEAS math have a calculator?
Yes. A calculator is built into the exam; you can't bring your own.
What conversions do I need to know for the TEAS?
Metric prefixes from kilo to micro; US length, weight and volume; the main links between them (2.54 cm per inch, 2.2 lb per kg, about 30 mL per fluid ounce, 5 mL per teaspoon); and Celsius to Fahrenheit both ways.
Is there geometry on the TEAS?
Yes, inside measurement and data: perimeter, area, circumference and volume of common shapes, often in a word problem.
How many math questions are on the TEAS?
38 in 57 minutes: 34 scored (18 numbers and algebra, 16 measurement and data) and 4 unscored.
Is TEAS math hard?
It is middle-school and early high-school math. What makes it hard is remembering the right formula at 90 seconds a question, which is why the plan drills them timed.
Sources
- ATI, ATI TEAS exam details (sections, questions, minutes, content areas, calculator). Read for our format guide, October 2026.
- ATI, what formulas do I need to know for the TEAS exam. Seen 2026-11-01.
- NIST, approximate conversions from US customary measures to metric and metric SI prefixes.
- Mometrix, TEAS math practice test; Practice Test Geeks, math for the TEAS test: topic lists. Read 2026-11-01.
- Program math minimums: each program's own page, linked above and in our program list.
More guides: TEAS math practice test, TEAS reading study guide, what is on the TEAS test, or all guides. To find out which formulas cost you points, take the free practice test: 15 questions across the four sections, scored against your program's minimum.