TEAS 7 Geometry: Area, Perimeter, and Circumference Formulas
By James Peterson, M.A. · Updated April 18, 2026
You must memorize the formulas for a Rectangle (Area = L × W, Perimeter = 2L + 2W), a Triangle (Area = ½bh), and a Circle (Area = πr², Circumference = 2πr or πd). The TEAS will NOT provide a formula sheet.
The math section of the ATI TEAS 7 relies heavily on algebraic word problems, but interspersed among those are pure geometry questions. The trap? They almost never provide you with the shape visually. You have to extract the measurements from a word problem and apply a memorized formula.
If you're unsure how Math factors into your target composite score, review our Ultimate TEAS 7 Study Guide to see how nursing schools weigh the different pillars of the TEAS.
The "Must-Memorize" 2D Formulas
Do not walk into the Pearson testing center without having these burned into your brain.
Rectangles & Squares
- Perimeter: $P = 2L + 2W$ (Add all the outside edges together)
- Area: $A = L \times W$ (Length times Width)
Triangles
- Area: $A = \frac{1}{2}bh$ (Half the base times the height)
Circles
- Circumference: $C = 2\pi r$ OR $C = \pi d$ (The perimeter of a circle)
- Area: $A = \pi r^2$ (Pi times the radius squared)
Handling Word Problems
The TEAS rarely says, "Solve for the area of a circle with radius 4." Instead, they use real-world scenarios.
Example Problem:
A patient's wound is perfectly circular and has a diameter of 8 centimeters. What is the approximate area of the wound?
Step 1: Identify the Shape.
It's a circle. We need the Area formula: $A = \pi r^2$.
Step 2: Find the Radius.
The problem gives us the Diameter (8 cm).
We must cut that in half to get the radius: $8 \div 2 = 4$.
Step 3: Plug into the Formula.
$A = 3.14 \times (4^2)$
$A = 3.14 \times 16$
$A = 50.24$ cm²
📋 From the Tutor's Desk
I cannot count the number of times my TEAS math students forget what to solve for because of tricky wording. During a mock test review yesterday, my student Sarah was asked, "How much fencing is needed to surround a rectangular garden?" She immediately multiplied the length by the width and got the question wrong. I asked her, "Sarah, does a fence cover the grass (Area), or does it wrap around the outside edges (Perimeter)?" She quickly realized that "fencing," "borders," and "trim" all mean Perimeter, whereas "carpet," "lawn," and "paint" mean Area.
The 3D Bonus: Rectangular Prisms & Cylinders
While 2D shapes make up the bulk of the geometry, the TEAS 7 occasionally throws in a volume question. You should know these two.
- Volume of a Rectangular Prism (A Box): $V = L \times W \times H$
- Volume of a Cylinder (A Tube/Can): $V = \pi r^2h$
Check Your Math Under Pressure
The only way to ensure you don't blank out on test day is to drill these formulas. Try taking our Free TEAS 7 Practice Quiz to test your memory under standard testing time limits.
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