TEAS Math is 38 questions in 57 minutes, and an on-screen calculator is provided - so the section rewards knowing which operation to use far more than fast arithmetic. The content is mostly numbers and algebra, with a smaller block on measurement and data. This guide covers the formulas worth memorising, the conversions that appear again and again, and how to read a word problem so you pick the right operation first time. Last updated July 2026.
TEAS math is mostly arithmetic word problems. Slow down on what’s asked, keep your units, and use the setups below.
Order of Operations (PEMDAS)
- Parentheses → Exponents → Multiply/Divide (left→right) → Add/Subtract (left→right).
- Example: 4 + 3 × (6−2) ÷ 2 = 4 + 12÷2 = 4 + 6 = 10.
Fractions ↔ Decimals ↔ Percents
| Convert | How |
|---|---|
| Fraction → decimal | divide top ÷ bottom |
| Decimal → percent | × 100 |
| Percent → decimal | ÷ 100 |
| “% of” a number | multiply (30% of 250 = 0.30×250 = 75) |
Ratios, Proportions & Rates
- Cross-multiply: 2/3 = 8/x → 2x = 24 → x = 12.
- Unit rate = total ÷ number of units ($6.25 for 5 = $1.25 each).
- 1:5 nurse-to-patient, 35 patients → 35÷5 = 7 nurses.
Solve for x
Unit Conversions
| Conversion | Remember |
|---|---|
| Liters ↔ mL | 1 L = 1,000 mL |
| kg ↔ g | 1 kg = 1,000 g |
| lb ↔ kg | 1 kg = 2.2 lb |
| °C → °F | F = 9/5·C + 32 |
| °F → °C | C = 5/9·(F−32) |
Geometry & Data
| Shape | Formula |
|---|---|
| Rectangle | A = l×w; P = 2(l+w) |
| Square | A = side²; P = 4×side |
| Triangle | A = ½×base×height |
| Circle | A = πr²; C = 2πr |
- Mean = add up ÷ how many. Median = middle after sorting.
- Area uses SQUARE units (cm²). Pie-chart slices add to 100%.
- Round first to estimate: 487 + 312 ≈ 800.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a calculator on the TEAS?
Yes. The ATI TEAS 7 provides an on-screen four-function calculator. You cannot bring your own, so practise with a basic calculator rather than a graphing one.
How many math questions are on the TEAS?
The Mathematics section has 38 questions in 57 minutes, covering numbers and algebra plus measurement and data.
What math formulas do I need for the TEAS?
Focus on area and perimeter of basic shapes, volume of a rectangular solid, percentage change, the Celsius-Fahrenheit conversion, and metric prefixes. Ratio and proportion setups matter more than any single formula.
Is TEAS math hard?
It is not advanced - there is no trigonometry or calculus - but it is broad and timed. Most lost marks come from misreading the question or unit errors, not from difficult mathematics.
Keep going
- TEAS Reading Study Guide — main idea, inference, text structure
- TEAS Math Study Guide — formulas, conversions, word problems
- TEAS Science Study Guide — A&P, chemistry, scientific reasoning
- TEAS English Study Guide — grammar, punctuation, usage
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