Important Formulas for CAT Exam 2025: Topic-Wise List by Planet E
The Common Admission Test (CAT 2025) is one of the most competitive MBA entrance exams in India. With around 22 questions in the Quantitative Aptitude (QA) section, success demands a strong grip on concepts, shortcuts, and formulas.
This guide by Planet E provides a complete topic-wise list of the Important Formulas for CAT Exam 2025. These formulas will enhance your speed, accuracy, and confidence in the quant section.
Also Read | CAT 2025: The syllabus for the CAT Quantitative Aptitude
📌 Why Learn CAT Important Formulas?
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Boosts speed during the exam
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Reduces silly mistakes
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Helps with shortcut tricks
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Strengthens your conceptual base
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Useful in mocks and revision
🔢 Number System Formulas for CAT 2025
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Difference of Squares | (a + b)(a – b) = a² – b² |
| (a + b)² | a² + 2ab + b² |
| (a – b)² | a² – 2ab + b² |
| (a + b + c)² | a² + b² + c² + 2ab + 2bc + 2ca |
| a³ + b³ | (a + b)(a² – ab + b²) |
| a³ – b³ | (a – b)(a² + ab + b²) |
| Special identity | a³ + b³ + c³ – 3abc = (a + b + c)(a² + b² + c² – ab – bc – ca) |
| When a + b + c = 0 | a³ + b³ + c³ = 3abc |
| Sum of n natural numbers | n(n + 1) / 2 |
| Sum of squares | n(n + 1)(2n + 1) / 6 |
| Sum of cubes | (n(n + 1)/2)² |
| Sum of first n odd numbers | n² |
| Sum of first n even numbers | n(n + 1) |
💰 Profit, Loss & Discount Formulas
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Profit | SP – CP |
| Loss | CP – SP |
| Profit % | (Profit / CP) × 100 |
| Loss % | (Loss / CP) × 100 |
| SP (with profit) | SP = (100 + Profit%) / 100 × CP |
| SP (with loss) | SP = (100 – Loss%) / 100 × CP |
| CP (reverse profit) | CP = 100 / (100 + Profit%) × SP |
| CP (reverse loss) | CP = 100 / (100 – Loss%) × SP |
| Discount | MP – SP |
| Discount % | (Discount / MP) × 100 |
🕒 Time, Speed, Distance & Work
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Speed | Distance / Time |
| Distance | Speed × Time |
| Time | Distance / Speed |
| Avg. Speed (equal distance) | 2xy / (x + y) |
| Work Done | Time × Rate |
| Rate of Work | 1 / Time |
| Time Taken | 1 / Rate |
| Total Work | Days × Efficiency |
| Efficiency | Work / Time |
| Combined Work Formula | M₁D₁H₁W₂ = M₂D₂H₂W₁ |
📈 Percentage Formulas for CAT
| Formula | Expression |
|---|---|
| Percentage | (Part / Whole) × 100 |
| Increase % | ((New – Old)/Old) × 100 |
| Decrease % | ((Old – New)/Old) × 100 |
| Markup % | (Markup / CP) × 100 |
| Discount % | (Discount / MP) × 100 |
💸 Simple and Compound Interest Formulas
| Type | Formula |
|---|---|
| Simple Interest | (P × R × T) / 100 |
| SI Amount | P + SI |
| Compound Interest (Annual) | P[(1 + R/100)^T – 1] |
| CI Amount (Annual) | P(1 + R/100)^T |
| CI (n compoundings/year) | P[(1 + R/n)^(nt) – 1] |
| CI Amount (n compoundings/year) | P(1 + R/n)^(nt) |
📏 Mensuration Formulas – 2D and 3D
2D Shapes
| Shape | Area | Perimeter |
|---|---|---|
| Square | s² | 4s |
| Rectangle | l × b | 2(l + b) |
| Triangle | ½ × b × h | a + b + c |
| Circle | πr² | 2πr |
| Parallelogram | b × h | 2(l + b) |
| Trapezium | ½(a + b)h | a + b + c + d |
3D Shapes
| Shape | Volume | Surface Area |
|---|---|---|
| Cube | s³ | 6s² |
| Cuboid | l × b × h | 2(lb + bh + lh) |
| Sphere | 4/3 πr³ | 4πr² |
| Cylinder | πr²h | 2πr(r + h) |
| Cone | 1/3 πr²h | πr(l + r) |
| Hemisphere | 2/3 πr³ | 3πr² |
📐 Important Geometry & Trigonometry Formulas
Geometry – Triangle, Circle, Quadrilaterals
| Concept | Formula |
|---|---|
| Heron’s Formula | √[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)], where s = (a + b + c)/2 |
| Pythagoras | a² + b² = c² |
| Area (Equilateral Triangle) | (√3 / 4) × a² |
| Circle Area | πr² |
| Arc Length | (θ / 360) × 2πr |
| Sector Area | (θ / 360) × πr² |
| Polygon Sum of Angles | (n – 2) × 180° |
| Each Angle (Regular Polygon) | ((n – 2) × 180) / n |
📘 Trigonometry Formulas for CAT 2025
Trig Ratios:
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sinθ = Opp/Hyp, cosθ = Adj/Hyp, tanθ = Opp/Adj
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cscθ = Hyp/Opp, secθ = Hyp/Adj, cotθ = Adj/Opp
Identities:
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sin²θ + cos²θ = 1
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1 + tan²θ = sec²θ
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1 + cot²θ = csc²θ
Angle Sum & Difference:
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sin(A ± B) = sinAcosB ± cosAsinB
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cos(A ± B) = cosAcosB ∓ sinAsinB
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tan(A ± B) = (tanA ± tanB) / (1 ∓ tanA tanB)
✅ Conclusion
Memorizing and practicing these Important Formulas for CAT Exam 2025 can significantly improve your problem-solving speed and accuracy. Whether it’s Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry, or Trigonometry—these formulas serve as the foundation for your preparation.
At Planet E, we ensure that every CAT aspirant receives concept clarity, shortcut mastery, and exam strategy from expert mentors. Enroll in our offline or online CAT coaching to get access to:
✅ Formula Sheets
✅ PDF Notes
✅ Topic-Wise Mock Tests
✅ Personalized Mentoring
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