Class 10 Maths — Complete Formula Sheet (2026-27)
Every formula from all 14 chapters, memory tricks that actually stick, and the exact question patterns CBSE repeats every year.
Title & Meta Suggestions
Formulas Bhool Jaate Ho? Chill, Hum Hain Na 🎸
Exam se ek raat pehle formula yaad karne ki tension har back bencher jaanta hai. Isliye ye page bana hai — Class 10 Maths ke saare 14 chapters ke formulas, ek hi jagah, bina kisi bhaari-bharkam jargon ke. Scroll karo, jo chapter revise karna hai wahan jump karo, aur exam hall mein confidently likho.
Quick Jump — All 14 Chapters
Chapter-Wise Formulas, Tricks & Exam Patterns
Real Numbers — All Formulas
Remember 'HCF × LCM = Product' only works for TWO numbers, never for three or more — this trips up half the class every year.
Find HCF/LCM using prime factorisation, or prove √2, √3, √5 etc. are irrational using contradiction method (2-3 marks).
Polynomials — All Formulas
Sign trick: the sign in front of b/a and d/a always flips (negative), but c/a stays positive. Say it out loud as '-b/a, +c/a, -d/a' while revising.
Find a quadratic polynomial when sum and product of zeroes are given, or verify the relationship between zeroes and coefficients (2-3 marks).
Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables — All Formulas
Memory line: 'Different slope = one point meet, same slope different height = never meet, same slope same height = always meet' — matches unique/no-solution/infinite-solutions in order.
Solve pairs by substitution/elimination, or determine the nature of solutions without solving (checking ratio of coefficients) — a very common 2-mark shortcut question.
Quadratic Equations — All Formulas
D tells the 'drama' of the roots — Positive D = two different endings, Zero D = one repeated ending, Negative D = no real ending (imaginary). D for Drama.
Solve word problems (ages, speed-distance-time, area) forming a quadratic equation, then find roots using the formula or factorisation (3-5 marks).
Arithmetic Progressions — All Formulas
If you're given the last term instead of 'd', always use Sn = n/2(a+l) directly — saves a full extra step of finding d first.
Find the nth term or sum of n terms given some conditions (e.g., sum of first 14 terms, or which term equals a given value) — extremely common 3-mark numerical.
Triangles — All Formulas
For 'area of similar triangles' questions, always square the side ratio first — students forget the square and just carry forward the linear ratio, losing the answer.
Prove two triangles similar using AA/SSS/SAS, then use the similarity to find a missing side or the ratio of areas (3 marks).
Coordinate Geometry — All Formulas
Midpoint is just the section formula with m:n = 1:1 — don't memorise it separately, just plug m=n=1 into the section formula if you forget it under pressure.
Find the distance between two points, or find a point dividing a line segment in a given ratio, or check if three points are collinear (area = 0) — 2-3 marks.
Introduction to Trigonometry — All Formulas
Remember 'Pandit Badri Prasad Har Har Bole' for sin, cos, tan = Perpendicular/Hypotenuse, Base/Hypotenuse, Perpendicular/Base — a classic trick that never fails in the exam hall.
Prove a trigonometric identity using the three Pythagorean identities, or evaluate an expression using standard angle values (0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°) — 3 marks, very frequent.
Some Applications of Trigonometry — All Formulas
Angle of elevation and angle of depression between the same two points are always EQUAL (alternate angles) — this single fact solves half the height-and-distance problems instantly.
Height of a tower/building/tree given the angle of elevation from a point on the ground, often combined with a second angle after moving closer — 3-5 marks word problem.
Circles — All Formulas
Whenever a tangent is mentioned in a question, immediately draw the radius to the point of contact and mark the 90° angle — this single step unlocks most circle proof questions.
Prove tangent-related properties, or find the length of a tangent from an external point using the Pythagoras theorem (radius, tangent, and distance to centre form a right triangle) — 2-3 marks.
Areas Related to Circles — All Formulas
θ/360 is the 'fraction of the pizza' — always figure out what fraction of the full circle the sector represents first, then multiply by the full circle's area or circumference.
Find the area of a sector/segment given the radius and angle, or find the area of a combination of a triangle and a circle/semicircle (5 marks, high-value question).
Surface Areas and Volumes — All Formulas
For 'combination of solids' questions (a cone on a hemisphere, a cylinder with hemispheres on both ends), NEVER add the flat circular faces where two solids join — only the curved/visible surfaces count. This is the single biggest mark-loser in this chapter.
Find the surface area or volume of a combination of two or more solids (cone mounted on a cylinder or hemisphere is the most repeated 5-mark question in recent years).
Statistics — All Formulas
For mode and median formulas, always identify the correct class FIRST (modal class = highest frequency, median class = where cumulative frequency crosses n/2) before plugging in numbers — most calculation errors come from picking the wrong class.
Find mean, median, and mode of grouped data from a frequency distribution table — appears almost every year as a 3-5 mark question.
Probability — All Formulas
Always list the total sample space carefully first (all outcomes of a die, coin, or deck of cards) before counting favourable outcomes — most probability mistakes come from miscounting the total, not the formula itself.
Probability questions involving a single die, two dice, a deck of 52 cards, or coloured balls in a bag — 2-3 marks, direct application of the formula.
⚡ 5-Minute Quick Revision Cheatsheet
High-yield summary — scan this table one last time before you walk into the exam hall.
| Chapter | Key Formula | Quick Trick |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Real Numbers | Euclid's Division Algorithm: a = bq + r, where 0 ≤ r < b | Remember 'HCF × LCM = Product' only works for TWO numbers, never for t... |
| 2. Polynomials | For quadratic ax² + bx + c: Sum of zeroes (α+β) = -b/a, Product of zeroes (αβ) = c/a | Sign trick: the sign in front of b/a and d/a always flips (negative), ... |
| 3. Pair of Linear Equations in Two Variables | a1x + b1y + c1 = 0 and a2x + b2y + c2 = 0 | Memory line: 'Different slope = one point meet, same slope different h... |
| 4. Quadratic Equations | Standard form: ax² + bx + c = 0 (a ≠ 0) | D tells the 'drama' of the roots — Positive D = two different endings,... |
| 5. Arithmetic Progressions | nth term: an = a + (n-1)d | If you're given the last term instead of 'd', always use Sn = n/2(a+l)... |
| 6. Triangles | Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales): if DE || BC, then AD/DB = AE/EC | For 'area of similar triangles' questions, always square the side rati... |
| 7. Coordinate Geometry | Distance formula: d = √[(x2-x1)² + (y2-y1)²] | Midpoint is just the section formula with m:n = 1:1 — don't memorise i... |
| 8. Introduction to Trigonometry | sin θ = Perpendicular/Hypotenuse, cos θ = Base/Hypotenuse, tan θ = Perpendicular/Base | Remember 'Pandit Badri Prasad Har Har Bole' for sin, cos, tan = Perpen... |
| 9. Some Applications of Trigonometry | Angle of elevation = angle formed looking UP from horizontal | Angle of elevation and angle of depression between the same two points... |
| 10. Circles | A tangent to a circle is perpendicular to the radius at the point of contact | Whenever a tangent is mentioned in a question, immediately draw the ra... |
| 11. Areas Related to Circles | Area of circle = πr² | θ/360 is the 'fraction of the pizza' — always figure out what fraction... |
| 12. Surface Areas and Volumes | Cube: Surface Area = 6a², Volume = a³ | For 'combination of solids' questions (a cone on a hemisphere, a cylin... |
| 13. Statistics | Mean (Direct method): x̄ = Σfixi / Σfi | For mode and median formulas, always identify the correct class FIRST ... |
| 14. Probability | Probability of an event: P(E) = Number of favourable outcomes / Total number of outcomes | Always list the total sample space carefully first (all outcomes of a ... |
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid in the Exam Hall
- Sign errors in coefficient formulas — forgetting the negative sign in α+β = -b/a or α+β+γ = -b/a costs easy marks in Polynomials.
- Forgetting to square the ratio in similar triangles' area questions — area ratio is (side ratio)², not the side ratio itself.
- Adding extra circular faces in combination-of-solids surface area questions — joined flat faces are hidden, not counted.
- Mixing up modal class and median class in Statistics — modal class has the highest frequency, median class is where cumulative frequency crosses n/2. These are usually NOT the same class.
- Using degrees and radians interchangeably without converting — always double check whether a trigonometry/mensuration question expects degrees before plugging into θ/360.
❓ FAQs — Class 10 Maths Formulas
How many chapters are there in CBSE Class 10 Maths for 2026-27?
There are 14 chapters in the current CBSE Class 10 Maths syllabus, after the Constructions chapter was removed in the latest rationalisation.
Which chapter has the highest weightage in Class 10 Maths board exam?
Algebra (Polynomials, Pair of Linear Equations, Quadratic Equations, Arithmetic Progressions) generally carries the highest combined weightage, followed closely by Geometry and Trigonometry.
How to memorise Class 10 Maths formulas fast before the exam?
Use short memory tricks and mnemonics (like "Pandit Badri Prasad Har Har Bole" for trigonometric ratios) instead of rote memorisation, and practise writing formulas by hand rather than only reading them.
Is Class 10 Maths formula sheet enough to score well, or do I need to solve problems too?
A formula sheet is a strong revision tool, but scoring well requires practising NCERT problems and previous year questions so you know exactly how each formula gets applied in different question patterns.
Are Class 10 Maths formulas the same for Standard and Basic Maths papers?
Yes, both Standard (Code 041) and Basic (Code 241) papers follow the same syllabus and formulas — the difference lies in the difficulty level and question pattern, not the formulas themselves.
More Formula Sheets on Back Bencher Class
Explore the full Maths Formula Hub for Class 9, 11, and 12 as well.
Go to Maths Formula Hub →