What this skill covers
Geometry and Trigonometry questions are usually a direct formula application once you identify which shape and which formula the question is really asking for — the difficulty is almost always in translating the words into the right diagram or equation, not in the arithmetic itself.
For right triangles, know the Pythagorean theorem (a² + b² = c²) cold, and remember that sine and cosine are always defined relative to a specific angle — opposite-over-hypotenuse and adjacent-over-hypotenuse for that angle, not a fixed pair of sides.
Worked examples
Example 1
A right triangle has legs of length 6 and 8. What is the length of the hypotenuse?
A. 10
B. 14
C. 48
D. 7
Why: 6² + 8² = 36 + 64 = 100, and √100 = 10 — a classic 6-8-10 right triangle (a scaled-up 3-4-5).
Example 2
A cylinder has radius 3 and height 5. What is its volume, in terms of π?
A. 45π
B. 15π
C. 30π
D. 90π
Why: Volume = πr²h = π(3²)(5) = 45π — the most common mistake is using the diameter instead of the radius, or forgetting to square the radius.
How to practice this on TSI Practice Prep
Open SAT Practice to answer original SAT questions on sAT Geometry and Trigonometry, get an explanation for every choice, and see this skill tracked separately in your progress and mistake review.
Practice score estimates are learning indicators, not official scores or admission guarantees.
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