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Edexcel GCSE Maths formula sheet (1MA1): every formula and how to use it

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Formula sheet

Pearson calls its sheet the Exam Aid. The text below follows its Foundation and Higher files for the 2026 Assessment Window, the latest on Pearson's site. Press the card to try a paper with the formulae in the drawer.

Formula sheet

GCSE Maths Foundation

Open formula sheet

Perimeter, area and volume

\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}(a+b)harea of a trapezium with parallel sides a and b and perpendicular height h
\text{Volume}=\text{area of cross section}\times\text{length}volume of a prism = area of cross section × length
C=2\pi r=\pi dcircumference of a circle, where r is the radius and d is the diameter
A=\pi r^2area of a circle

Quadratic formula

x=\frac{-b\pm\sqrt{b^2-4ac}}{2a}the solutions of ax² + bx + c = 0, where a is not 0 (Higher Tier only)

Pythagoras' theorem and trigonometry

a^2+b^2=c^2right-angled triangle with hypotenuse c
\sin A=\frac{a}{c}sine in a right-angled triangle ABC, with c the hypotenuse
\cos A=\frac{b}{c}cosine in a right-angled triangle ABC
\tan A=\frac{a}{b}tangent in a right-angled triangle ABC
\frac{a}{\sin A}=\frac{b}{\sin B}=\frac{c}{\sin C}sine rule, for any triangle ABC (Higher Tier only)
a^2=b^2+c^2-2bc\cos Acosine rule, for any triangle ABC (Higher Tier only)
\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}ab\sin Carea of a triangle (Higher Tier only)

Compound interest

\text{Total accrued}=P\left(1+\frac{r}{100}\right)^nP is the principal, r is the interest rate for each period in percent and n is the number of times the interest is compounded

Probability

P(A\text{ or }B)=P(A)+P(B)-P(A\text{ and }B)P(A) and P(B) are the probabilities of outcomes A and B
P(A\text{ and }B)=P(A\text{ given }B)\times P(B)conditional probability (Higher Tier only)

Foundation and Higher

FormulaFoundationHigher
Trapezium, prism, circleYesYes
Pythagoras and right-angled trigonometryYesYes
Compound interestYesYes
P(A or B)YesYes
Quadratic formulaNoYes
Sine rule, cosine rule, area ½ab sin CNoYes
P(A and B) = P(A given B) × P(B)NoYes
acbAABChypotenuse
In Pearson's sheet a is opposite A, b is adjacent and c is the hypotenuse.

How the Exam Aid is set out

Each file is two pages. Page one is a notice that you cannot take into the exam, saying a copy is inserted in the question paper and that anyone may use or discuss it. Page two is the Formulae Sheet itself. Pearson says the format of the assessments is unchanged, so the aid adds to the paper rather than replacing anything.

Worked example: a ladder and tan

A ladder leans against a wall and makes 64° with the ground. The foot is 1.2 m from the wall. Use tan A = a/b, where a is the side opposite the angle and b is the side next to it. Here the height up the wall is a.

a=b\tan A=1.2\times\tan64^\circ=2.46\ \text{m}

The ladder reaches 2.46 m up the wall. A steep ladder gives a height more than twice the base, which matches a 64° angle.

Worked example: a quadratic that factorises awkwardly (Higher)

Solve 3x² − 7x − 6 = 0, with a = 3, b = −7 and c = −6. The discriminant is b² − 4ac = 49 + 72 = 121, a perfect square.

x=\frac{7\pm\sqrt{121}}{6}=\frac{7\pm11}{6}\quad\text{so}\quad x=3\ \text{or}\ x=-\frac{2}{3}

Worked example: the area of a triangle from two sides (Higher)

Two sides are 8 cm and 11 cm with a 35° angle between them. The sheet gives area = ½ab sin C.

\text{Area}=\frac{1}{2}\times8\times11\times\sin35^\circ=25.2\ \text{cm}^2

Test the quadratic formula on a question from our Algebra course, then press Mark to check it there:

Use the quadratic formula to find both roots.

Press Mark to have your answer marked in the Algebra course.

If your school uses another board

The formulae match AQA's 2027 insert and OCR's 2027 sheet, though Pearson's page layout differs. Our AQA GCSE Maths formula sheet guide has the AQA wording. Boards, papers and boundaries are in the GCSE Maths guide. Pearson has not published a 2027 Exam Aid, so this page follows the 2026 one.

Sitting today's paper

Try the daily Foundation or Higher paper with a timer: 8 questions, 25 to 35 marks, not a Pearson paper. Note which questions you solved without the aid and which you opened it for.

Exam answers

After you submit today's paper, the marked version carries worked answers and a mark scheme. Nothing here is Pearson's official answer or taken from a past paper.

Common questions

What is the Edexcel Exam Aid?
It is Pearson's formulae sheet for 1MA1, one version for Foundation and one for Higher, copied into the question paper as an insert.
Can I read it before the exam?
Yes. Pearson says there are no restrictions on who can use it and that students and teachers may discuss it.
Which formulae need Higher?
The quadratic formula, sine rule, cosine rule, ½ab sin C and the conditional probability line.
Is a triangle's ½bh on it?
No, only ½ab sin C on Higher.
Is there a 2027 Exam Aid?
Pearson has not published one yet. This page follows the 2026 Exam Aid.

Revision cards

Say the answer first, then flip the card to check it.

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