Geometry & Data Analysis

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Calculate dimensions, perimeter, circumference, and area of two-dimensional figures
• Calculate and use rates, ratios, and percents
• Interpret and create data displays
• Calculate and use mean, median, mode, and weighted average
• Determine probabilities
Two-Dimensional Figures

Two-dimensional (2D) figures are shapes made up of line segments, such as rectangles, triangles,
and circles.

There are infinite types of 2D figures, but the

most common 2D shapes on the GED test
include quadrilaterals, triangles, and circles.
You have access to a Formula Sheet
during the test, but you will need to know
how to identify shapes and use the
formulas for this to be helpful!
Quadrilaterals

Quadrilaterals are 2D figures with four straight sides, four angles, and four vertices.

rectangle square parallelogram

trapezoid rhombus
Triangles

A triangle has three sides, three angles, and three vertices.

Triangles can be classified by side length or angle measure.

Triangles

A right triangle has one right angle.

The side directly across from the right angle is the longest side of the
right triangle and is called the hypotenuse.

The two sides adjacent to the right angle are called the legs of the
triangle.

When a and b are used to represent the lengths of the legs and c is used to represent the
length of the hypotenuse, the side lengths of a right triangle can be represented by the
equation a2 + b2 = c2.
This equation is known as the Pythagorean theorem.
Mixed Practice

1. One side of a right triangle is 3 meters, and the hypotenuse of the triangle is 6 meters. Find the
length of the remaining side to the nearest tenth unit. You MAY use a calculator.
Perimeter and Area

Perimeter is the distance around a figure. Perimeter is measured in units.

To find perimeter, simply add the lengths of the sides.

Area is the measure of the space inside a flat figure. Area is

measured in square units.
Certain shapes have formulas to make it easier to find the
perimeter and area of the shape
Circles

A circle is a closed set of points that are all the same distance from a
single point: the center of the circle.

Any line that goes from the center of the circle to a point on the circle is
called the radius.

Any line that goes from one point on the circle to another point on the
circle while passing directly through the center is called the diameter.

When two radii are combined, they create the diameter.

Circles

The perimeter of a circle is called the circumference.

The area of a circle is still called area.

circumference = π × diameter → C = πd = π (2r)

area = π × (radius)2 or A = πr2

C = circumference d = diameter
r = radius A = area
Mixed Practice

2. Dhivya is designing a circular garden for her yard. She will use 4 meter long dividers between
sections, and she wants to use the same material to create a fence around the garden. How many
meters of fencing will Dhivya need?

A. 13
B. 25
C. 32
D. 50
Perimeter and Area

For certain 2D figures, you can apply a formula to find the perimeter.

These formulas are provided, but try to memorize them:

Perimeter and Area

For certain 2D figures, you can apply a formula to find the area.

These formulas are provided, but try to memorize them:

Mixed Practice

3. Jan has built a rectangular frame out of wood to use for the bottom of a platform. He wants to
add a diagonal brace as shown in the drawing below. What will the length of the brace be to the
nearest tenth of a foot?

A. 16.0
B. 13.7
C. 12.8
D. 12.1
Mixed Practice

4. On the target below, the 5- and 10-point bands are each 2 inches wide, and the 25-point inner
circle has a diameter of 2 inches. To the nearest inch, what is the outer circumference of the 10-
point band?

A. 6
B. 13
C. 19
D. 113
Mixed Practice

5. If workers lay a tile border around the edge of the fountain shown in the diagram, how many feet
long will the border be to the nearest foot?

A. 19
B. 36
C. 38
D. 57
Mixed Practice

6. Martin is building a rectangular patio centered on one side of his yard. The rest of his yard,
shown in the diagram, is planted with grass. If the measurements in the diagram are in feet, what is
the square footage of the grass portion of Martin’s yard?

A. 108
B. 162
C. 324
D. 432
Ratios and Proportions

A ratio compares two numbers. You can write a ratio using the word to,
a colon (:), or fraction form.
4
4 to 1 4:1
1

A proportion is an equation that shows that two ratios are equal. In most
proportion problems, you are asked to solve for a missing term.
1 x
=
4 32

To directly compare quantities represented differently, translate them into the same format.
Mixed Practice

7. There are 10 men and 14 women in Kathleen’s math class. What is the ratio of women to the total
number of students in the class?

10
A.
24
14
B.
24
C. 10
14
D. 14
10
Percents

Percent means “per hundred” or “out of one hundred.”

part
percent =  100%
whole

To convert a percent into a fraction, write the percent over 100 and reduce.
25 1
25% = =
100 4

To convert percents to decimals, drop the percent symbol and move the decimal point two places
to the left.

25% = 0.25
Mixed Practice

8. Relative humidity is found by dividing the grams of water vapor per cubic meter of air by the
maximum possible grams of water vapor per cubic meter of air, then converting to a percentage.
If on a given day the air has 6.7 grams of water vapor per cubic meter, and the maximum possible
at that temperature is 19.2 grams of water vapor per cubic meter, what is the relative humidity, to
the nearest percent?

A. 19%
B. 30%
C. 35%
D. 67%
Percents: Taxes and Gratuities

To calculate the amount of tax charged on a purchase or the amount of tip to leave, multiply the
original cost by the tax or gratuity rate.

Cost: $20.00
Tax rate: 8.25%
Tax = 20 x 0.0825 = $1.65

Pro Tip: To calculate the final cost in one step, multiply the original cost by 100% + the
tax rate: final cost = 20 x 108.25% = 20 x 1.0825 = $21.65
Percents: Simple Interest

To calculate simple interest, multiply the principal, the rate, and the time
together. Make sure both the rate and the time are listed using either
months or years—not a mix of the two!

Loan (principal): $2000

Interest rate: 2% (monthly)
Term= 24 months
Interest = principal × rate (monthly) × time (months) = 2000 x 0.02 x 24 = $960

The formula for simple interest is provided on the Formula Sheet on Test Day.
Mixed Practice

9. Jean borrowed $1300 to buy tools for her job as an auto mechanic. The loan is for 1 year and 6
months at 9% simple interest annually. Which of the following expressions could be used to find the
amount she will pay back at the end of the loan period?

A. $1300 × 1.5 × 0.09

B. $1300 × 1.5 × 9
C. $1300 + ($1300 × 9 × 1.5)
D. $1300 + ($1300 × 0.09 × 1.5)
Percent Change

Percent change represents the increase or decrease between an original value and a new value.

new − original
percent change =  100%
original

To calculate percent change:

• Subtract the original value from the new value
• Divide the difference by the original value
• Multiply by 100 to turn this decimal into a percent
Mixed Practice

10. Dominic earns $285 per week plus an 8% commission rate on all his sales. If Dominic sells $4,213
worth of merchandise in one week, how much will his total earnings for the week be?

A. $337.04
B. $359.84
C. $513.00
D. $622.04
Displaying Categorical Data

Pie graphs are used to represent portions of a whole. The size of each “slice” corresponds to the
percent of the whole it represents.

Bar graphs use bars to represent values. One axis represents a numerical scale, while the other
contains labels for the quantities being represented.
Mixed Practice

11. The graph shows the level of ibuprofen, y units, in a patient’s

bloodstream x hours after the ibuprofen was taken.

The level of ibuprofen in the patient’s bloodstream increased from

hours to hours.
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range

For a given data set:

• Mode: The most common value
• Range: The difference between the largest and smallest values
• Median: The middle value (or the average of the two middle values, if the data set has an even
number of values)
• Mean (Average): The sum of the values divided by the number of values
Example: {–4, 1, 5, 8, 10, 10}
sum of terms −4 + 1 + 5 + 8 + 10 + 10 30
Mode = most = 10 Mean = = = =5
number of terms 6 6
Range = largest – smallest = (10) − (−4) = 14
Median = middle value = between 5 and 8 =
5+8
= 6.5
2
Mixed Practice

12. A speech pathologist collects data from 10 people for an experiment. Each person answers 6
questions. The speech pathologist records the number of questions that each person correctly
answered and puts each person’s data in the line plot. The median of the data is 3.5, and the mode
of the data is 2. Complete the line plot so that the plot matches the pathologist’s data.

On Test Day: Click on the

red X and drag it onto the
graph as many times as
necessary to represent
the data.
Mean, Median, Mode, and Range

13. The number of patients enrolled at four health clinics are 790, 1150,
662, and 805. Which expression could be used to find the mean number
of patients per clinic?

790 + 1150 + 662 + 805

A.
4

B. 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805

662 + 1150
C.
2

D. (790 + 1150 + 662 + 805) × 2

Rates

A rate is a form of ratio which represents how

many units of a certain variable there are per
one unit of another variable.

The unit rate, the quantity of y per one unit of x,

is the same as the slope of the line representing
this relationship.
Mixed Practice

14. A painter rented a wallpaper steamer at 9 a.m. and returned it at 4

p.m. He paid a total of $28.84. What was the rental cost per hour?

A. $2.43
B. $3.61
C. $4.12
D. $5.77
Probability

The probability that an event will occur describes the chance that a particular outcome will happen.
To calculate the probability that an event will occur use the formula:

probability = # of desired outcomes

# of total possible outcomes

The probability that an event won’t happen is always: 1 – (probability that it will)

Example: If there are 8 books on the shelf and 3 are red, what is the probability of selecting a red
book? Selecting a book that isn’t red?
Desired: red books probabilityred = 3
8
Total possible: all books 3 = 5
probabilitynot red = 1 –
8 8
Probability

The outcome of independent events do not affect the outcome of future

events. To calculate the probability that two independent events will
happen, multiply the probability of each event together:

Probability1 × Probability2

Example: There are 8 books on the shelf. Three are red and two are blue. What is the probability
of selecting a red book, putting it back, and then selecting a blue book?
Probability 1: Probability 2: Probability of both:

Desired: red books Desired: blue books Prob1 × Prob2

3 2= 6 = 3
Total possible: all books Total possible: all books ×
8 8 64 32
prob1 = 3 prob2 = 2
8 8
Mixed Practice

15. The probability of rain on each of the next three days is given in the table.

Probability of Rain on Each Day

On Test Day: Type your
Day Tuesday Wednesday Thursday answer in the box. You
Probability may use numbers, a
30% 45% 50%
of Rain decimal point (.), and/or a
Based on the table, what is the percent probability that it will rain all three negative sign (–) in your
days? answer.

%
Mixed Practice

16. Hartley opened a food truck business to sell food on the street. On day 2, the business earned
$112. On day 5, the business earned $367. Hartley assumes that the earnings will continue to
increase at the same rate. How much will the business earn on day 10?

On Test Day: Type your

answer in the box. You
may use numbers, a
decimal point (.),
and/or a negative sign
(–) in your answer.
Mixed Practice

17. Douglas received a 6% raise. If his old monthly salary was $2,250, what is his monthly salary now?

A. $2,256
B. $2,385
C. $3,600
D. $13,500
Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Calculate dimensions, perimeter, circumference, and area of two-dimensional figures
• Calculate and use rates, ratios, and percents
• Interpret and create data displays
• Calculate and use mean, median, mode, and weighted average
• Determine probabilities
Questions?

Effort and practice are the keys to Test Day Success. Now that you have completed this lesson, you
should reinforce these topics by completing practice questions.

If you have questions between live sessions, email your GED experts at [email protected]
with questions.

Happy studying!
Answer Key
Answer Key

1. One side of a right triangle is 3 meters, and the hypotenuse of the triangle is 6 meters. Find the
length of the remaining side to the nearest tenth unit. You MAY use a calculator.

leg b a2 + b2 = c2 To find a, take the square root of 27.

leg a a2 + 32 = 62 a = 5.19615244…
a2 + 9 = 36 a ≈ 5.2 meters
hypotenuse c
a2 = 27
leg a = a meters
leg b = 3 meters
hypotenuse c = 6 meters
Answer Key

2. Dhivya is designing a circular garden for her yard. She will use 4 meter long dividers between
sections, and she wants to use the same material to create a fence around the garden. How many
meters of fencing will Dhivya need?

A. 13 dividers = radius = 4 meters

B. 25
C. 32 Circumference = 2 × π × radius, or C = 2πr
D. 50 C=2×π×4
C ≈ 8 × 3.14
C ≈ 25.12 ≈ 25 meters
Answer Key

3. Jan has built a rectangular frame out of wood to use for the bottom of a platform. He wants to
add a diagonal brace as shown in the drawing below. What will the length of the brace be to the
nearest tenth of a foot?

A. 16.0 diagonal brace = hypotenuse

c
B. 13.7 a2 + b2 = c2
C. 12.8 112 + 52 = c2
D. 12.1
121 + 25 = c2
146 = c2
12.1 feet ≈ c
Answer Key

4. On the target below, the 5- and 10-point bands are each 2 inches wide, and the 25-point inner
circle has a diameter of 2 inches. To the nearest inch, what is the outer circumference of the 10-
point band?
diameter = 2 + 2 + 2 = 6
A. 6
B. 13 2 2 2 C = πd
C. 19 C ≈ 3.14 × 6
C ≈ 18.84
D. 113
C ≈ 19 inches
Answer Key

5. If workers lay a tile border around the edge of the fountain shown in the diagram, how many feet
long will the border be to the nearest foot?

A. 19 Border of the fountain =

B. 36
circumference of the circle

C. 38 C = πd
D. 57 C = π × 12
C ≈ 3.14 × 12
C ≈ 37.68
C ≈ 38 feet
Answer Key

6. Martin is building a rectangular patio centered on one side of his yard. The rest of his yard,
shown in the diagram, is planted with grass. If the measurements in the diagram are in feet, what is
the square footage of the grass portion of Martin’s yard?

Grass portion is everything in the yard except the patio

A. 108
B. 162 Grass = yard – patio
C. 324
Area of the yard = 18 × 24 = 432
D. 432
Area of the patio = 9 × 12 = 108

Grass = 432 – 108 = 324 square feet

Answer Key

7. There are 10 men and 14 women in Kathleen’s math class. What is the ratio of women to the total
number of students in the class?

10
A. Number of women = 14
24
14 Total number of students = 10 + 14 = 24
B.
24
women 14
C. 10 Ratio of women to total = =
14
total 24
D. 14
10
Answer Key

8. Relative humidity is found by dividing the grams of water vapor per cubic meter of air by the
maximum possible grams of water vapor per cubic meter of air, then converting to a percentage.
If on a given day the air has 6.7 grams of water vapor per cubic meter, and the maximum possible
at that temperature is 19.2 grams of water vapor per cubic meter, what is the relative humidity, to
the nearest percent?

A. 19% water vapor (g/m³)

relative humidity = × 100%
B. 30%
max water vapor (g/m³)
C. 35%
D. 67% 6.7 g/m³
relative humidity = × 100%= 0.3489583333… × 100%
19.2 g/m³

To the nearest percent, the relative humidity is 35%.

Answer Key

9. Jean borrowed $1300 to buy tools for her job as an auto mechanic. The loan is for 1 year and 6
months at 9% simple interest annually. Which of the following expressions could be used to find the
amount she will pay back at the end of the loan period?

1) Find the amount of simple interest:

A. $1300 × 1.5 × 0.09
interest = amt borrowed × annual interest rate × time (years)
B. $1300 × 1.5 × 9
interest = $1300 × 9% × 1.5 years
C. $1300 + ($1300 × 9 × 1.5)
interest = $1300 × 0.09 × 1.5
D. $1300 + ($1300 × 0.09 × 1.5)
2) Find the total amount to be repaid:
total amount = amount borrowed + simple interest
total amount = $1300 + ($1300 × 0.09 × 1.5)
Answer Key

10. Dominic earns $285 per week plus an 8% commission rate on all his sales. If Dominic sells $4,213
worth of merchandise in one week, how much will his total earnings for the week be?

A. $337.04 Total earnings = $285 + commission

B. $359.84 Commission = 8% of $4,213 = 0.08 × $4,213 = $337.04
C. $513.00
$285 + $337.04 = $622.04
D. $622.04
Answer Key

11. The graph shows the level of ibuprofen, y units, in a patient’s

bloodstream x hours after the ibuprofen was taken.

The level of ibuprofen in the patient’s bloodstream increased from

hours to hours.

Where was the level increasing?

Answer Key

12. A speech pathologist collects data from 10 people for an experiment. Each person answers 6
questions. The speech pathologist records the number of questions that each person correctly
answered and puts each person’s data in the line plot. The median of the data is 3.5, and the mode
of the data is 2. Complete the line plot so that the plot matches the pathologist’s data.

On Test Day: Click on the

x red X and drag it onto the
graph as many times as
x
necessary to represent
the data.
Answer Key

13. The number of patients enrolled at four health clinics are 790, 1150,
662, and 805. Which expression could be used to find the mean number
of patients per clinic?

790 + 1150 + 662 + 805

A. Sum of terms
4 Mean =
Number of terms
B. 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805 Sum of terms = 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805
Number of terms = 4
662 + 1150
C.
2 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805
Mean =
4
D. (790 + 1150 + 662 + 805) × 2
Answer Key

13. The number of patients enrolled at four health clinics are 790, 1150,
662, and 805. Which expression could be used to find the mean number
of patients per clinic?

790 + 1150 + 662 + 805

A. Sum of terms
4 Mean =
Number of terms
B. 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805 Sum of terms = 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805
Number of terms = 4
662 + 1150
C.
2 790 + 1150 + 662 + 805
Mean =
4
D. (790 + 1150 + 662 + 805) × 2
Answer Key

14. A painter rented a wallpaper steamer at 9 a.m. and returned it at 4

p.m. He paid a total of $28.84. What was the rental cost per hour?

A. $2.43 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. = 7 hours

B. $3.61 $28.84 ÷ 7 hours = $4.12 per hour
C. $4.12
D. $5.77
Answer Key

15. The probability of rain on each of the next three days is given in the table.

Probability of Rain on Each Day

On Test Day: Type your
Day Tuesday Wednesday Thursday answer in the box. You
Probability may use numbers, a
30% 45% 50%
of Rain decimal point (.), and/or a
Based on the table, what is the percent probability that it will rain all three negative sign (–) in your
days? answer.

30% × 45% × 50% 0.3 × 0.45 × 0.5 = 0.0675 = 6.75%

=
6.75 %
Answer Key

16. Hartley opened a food truck business to sell food on the street. On day 2, the business earned
$112. On day 5, the business earned $367. Hartley assumes that the earnings will continue to
increase at the same rate. How much will the business earn on day 10?

792 On Test Day: Type your

Increase over 3 days: 367 – 112 = 255 answer in the box. You
Increase per day: 255 ÷ 3 = 85 may use numbers, a
Increase after 5 days: 5(85) decimal point (.),
Amount after 5 more days: 367 + 5(85) = 792 and/or a negative sign
(–) in your answer.
Answer Key

17. Douglas received a 6% raise. If his old monthly salary was $2,250, what is his monthly salary now?

A. $2,256 old salary = $2,250

B. $2,385 new salary = 106% of old salary = old salary × 106%
C. $3,600
D. $13,500
106% = 1.06

new salary = $2,250 x 1.06 = $2,385