Complete Geometry Notes for CAT Exam

Overview
Geometry is a crucial topic in the CAT Quantitative Aptitude section, typically accounting for 15-
20% of the total questions (3-6 questions per exam). The difficulty level ranges from easy to
moderate, making it an excellent scoring opportunity with proper preparation.

Key Statistics
Expected Questions: 2-6 per CAT exam
Marks: 6-18 marks potential
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Topics Coverage: 2D Geometry, 3D Geometry, Coordinate Geometry

1. LINES AND ANGLES

Basic Concepts
Point: Has no dimension
Line: Extends infinitely in both directions
Line Segment: Portion of line between two points
Ray: Has one endpoint, extends infinitely in one direction

Types of Angles
Acute Angle: 0° < angle < 90°
Right Angle: angle = 90°
Obtuse Angle: 90° < angle < 180°
Straight Angle: angle = 180°
Reflex Angle: 180° < angle < 360°
Complete Angle: angle = 360°

Angle Properties
Vertically Opposite Angles: Equal
Complementary Angles: Sum = 90°
Supplementary Angles: Sum = 180°
Linear Pair: Sum = 180°
Parallel Lines and Transversals
Corresponding Angles: Equal
Alternate Interior Angles: Equal
Alternate Exterior Angles: Equal
Co-interior Angles: Sum = 180°

2. TRIANGLES

Basic Properties
1. Sum of interior angles = 180°
2. Sum of exterior angles = 360°
3. Exterior angle = Sum of two remote interior angles
4. Sum of any two sides > Third side (Triangle Inequality)
5. Difference of any two sides < Third side

Classification by Sides
Scalene: All sides unequal
Isosceles: Two sides equal
Equilateral: All sides equal

Classification by Angles
Acute Triangle: All angles < 90°
Right Triangle: One angle = 90°
Obtuse Triangle: One angle > 90°

Area Formulas
1. Basic Formula: Area = ½ × base × height
2. Heron's Formula: Area = √[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)]
where s = (a+b+c)/2
3. Trigonometric Formula: Area = ½ab sin C
4. Equilateral Triangle: Area = (√3/4)a²
Important Theorems

Pythagorean Theorem
In a right triangle: a² + b² = c² (c is hypotenuse)

Basic Proportionality Theorem (Thales' Theorem)

If a line is parallel to one side of a triangle, it divides the other two sides proportionally.

Angle Bisector Theorem

The angle bisector divides the opposite side in the ratio of the adjacent sides.
AE/ED = AB/BD (where BE is angle bisector)

Apollonius Theorem
AB² + AC² = 2(AD² + BD²) (where AD is median)

Mid-Point Theorem
Line joining midpoints of two sides is parallel to the third side and half its length.

Special Points in Triangles

Centroid: Intersection of medians (always inside)
Incenter: Intersection of angle bisectors (always inside)
Circumcenter: Intersection of perpendicular bisectors
Inside for acute triangle
Outside for obtuse triangle
On hypotenuse for right triangle
Orthocenter: Intersection of altitudes
Inside for acute triangle
Outside for obtuse triangle
At right angle vertex for right triangle

Congruence Tests
SSS: Three sides equal
SAS: Two sides and included angle equal
ASA: Two angles and included side equal
AAS: Two angles and non-included side equal
RHS: Right angle, hypotenuse, and one side equal
Similarity Tests
AAA: All angles equal
SSS: Sides proportional
SAS: Two sides proportional and included angle equal

3. CIRCLES

Basic Definitions
Radius: Distance from center to circumference
Diameter: Twice the radius
Chord: Line segment joining two points on circle
Arc: Portion of circumference
Sector: Region between two radii
Segment: Region between chord and arc
Tangent: Line touching circle at one point
Secant: Line intersecting circle at two points

Circle Formulas
Circumference: 2πr
Area: πr²
Arc Length: (θ/360°) × 2πr
Sector Area: (θ/360°) × πr²

Important Properties
1. Equal chords subtend equal angles at center
2. Perpendicular from center to chord bisects the chord
3. Angle in semicircle = 90°
4. Angle at center = 2 × angle at circumference (same arc)
5. Tangent perpendicular to radius at point of contact
6. Two tangents from external point are equal in length

Common Tangent Formulas

For two circles with radii r₁ and r₂, distance between centers d:
Direct Common Tangent: √(d² - (r₁ - r₂)²)
Transverse Common Tangent: √(d² - (r₁ + r₂)²)
Cyclic Quadrilaterals
Opposite angles are supplementary (sum = 180°)
Ptolemy's Theorem: AC × BD = AB × CD + AD × BC

4. QUADRILATERALS

General Properties
Sum of interior angles = 360°
Sum of exterior angles = 360°
Number of diagonals = 2

Types and Properties

Parallelogram
Opposite sides: Parallel and equal
Opposite angles: Equal
Diagonals: Bisect each other
Area: base × height

Rectangle
All angles: 90°
Opposite sides: Equal
Diagonals: Equal and bisect each other
Area: length × breadth
Perimeter: 2(length + breadth)

Square
All sides: Equal
All angles: 90°
Diagonals: Equal, perpendicular, bisect each other
Area: side²
Perimeter: 4 × side
Rhombus
All sides: Equal
Opposite angles: Equal
Diagonals: Perpendicular bisectors
Area: ½ × d₁ × d₂ (d₁, d₂ are diagonals)

Trapezium
One pair of opposite sides parallel
Area: ½ × (sum of parallel sides) × height

Kite
Two pairs of adjacent sides equal
Diagonals: Perpendicular
One diagonal bisects the other

5. POLYGONS

General Formula
For a polygon with n sides:
Sum of interior angles: (n-2) × 180°
Each interior angle (regular): (n-2) × 180°/n
Sum of exterior angles: 360°
Each exterior angle (regular): 360°/n
Number of diagonals: n(n-3)/2

Common Polygons
Triangle (n=3): Interior angle sum = 180°
Quadrilateral (n=4): Interior angle sum = 360°
Pentagon (n=5): Interior angle sum = 540°
Hexagon (n=6): Interior angle sum = 720°
6. COORDINATE GEOMETRY

Distance Formula
Distance between points (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂):
d = √[(x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)²]

Midpoint Formula
Midpoint of line joining (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂):
M = ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2)

Section Formula
Point dividing line in ratio m:n:
Internal Division: ((mx₂+nx₁)/(m+n), (my₂+ny₁)/(m+n))
External Division: ((mx₂-nx₁)/(m-n), (my₂-ny₁)/(m-n))

Slope Formula
Slope of line joining (x₁,y₁) and (x₂,y₂):
m = (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁)

Equations of Lines
General Form: Ax + By + C = 0
Slope-Intercept Form: y = mx + c
Point-Slope Form: y - y₁ = m(x - x₁)
Intercept Form: x/a + y/b = 1

Line Properties
Parallel Lines: Same slope (m₁ = m₂)
Perpendicular Lines: m₁ × m₂ = -1

Circle Equations
Standard Form: (x-h)² + (y-k)² = r²
General Form: x² + y² + 2gx + 2fy + c = 0

Area of Triangle (Coordinates)

Area = ½|x₁(y₂-y₃) + x₂(y₃-y₁) + x₃(y₁-y₂)|
7. MENSURATION (2D & 3D)

2D Shapes

Basic Shapes
Square: Area = a², Perimeter = 4a
Rectangle: Area = lb, Perimeter = 2(l+b)
Circle: Area = πr², Circumference = 2πr
Triangle: Area = ½bh

3D Shapes

Cube
Volume: a³
Surface Area: 6a²
Space Diagonal: a√3

Cuboid
Volume: lbh
Surface Area: 2(lb + bh + hl)
Space Diagonal: √(l² + b² + h²)

Cylinder
Volume: πr²h
Curved Surface Area: 2πrh
Total Surface Area: 2πr(r + h)

Cone
Volume: ⅓πr²h
Curved Surface Area: πrl (l = slant height)
Total Surface Area: πr(r + l)
Slant Height: √(h² + r²)
Sphere
Volume: (4/3)πr³
Surface Area: 4πr²

Hemisphere
Volume: (2/3)πr³
Curved Surface Area: 2πr²
Total Surface Area: 3πr²

8. TRIGONOMETRY

Basic Ratios
For angle θ in right triangle:
sin θ = opposite/hypotenuse
cos θ = adjacent/hypotenuse
tan θ = opposite/adjacent
cosec θ = 1/sin θ
sec θ = 1/cos θ
cot θ = 1/tan θ

Trigonometric Table
Angle 0° 30° 45° 60° 90°

sin θ 0 1/2 1/√2 √3/2 1

cos θ 1 √3/2 1/√2 1/2 0

tan θ 0 1/√3 1 √3 ∞

Fundamental Identities
sin²θ + cos²θ = 1
1 + tan²θ = sec²θ
1 + cot²θ = cosec²θ
Compound Angle Formulas
sin(A ± B) = sin A cos B ± cos A sin B
cos(A ± B) = cos A cos B ∓ sin A sin B
tan(A ± B) = (tan A ± tan B)/(1 ∓ tan A tan B)

Double Angle Formulas

sin 2θ = 2 sin θ cos θ
cos 2θ = cos²θ - sin²θ = 2cos²θ - 1 = 1 - 2sin²θ
tan 2θ = 2tan θ/(1 - tan²θ)

9. PREPARATION STRATEGY

Topic-wise Priority
1. High Priority: Triangles, Circles, Quadrilaterals
2. Medium Priority: Coordinate Geometry, Mensuration
3. Low Priority: Trigonometry, Advanced Polygons

Time Allocation
Daily Practice: 2-3 hours
Formula Revision: 30 minutes daily
Mock Tests: Weekly geometry-focused tests

Key Tips
1. Memorize formulas - Create formula sheets
2. Draw diagrams - Visualize problems
3. Practice construction - Improve spatial reasoning
4. Time management - Average 2-3 minutes per question
5. Eliminate options - Use properties to eliminate wrong answers
6. Previous year questions - Solve last 10 years CAT papers

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Not drawing accurate diagrams
2. Mixing up similar formulas
3. Calculation errors in basic operations
4. Not checking answer choices for reasonableness
 5. Spending too much time on difficult questions

Quick Revision Checklist

[ ] All basic formulas memorized
[ ] Triangle properties and theorems
[ ] Circle theorems and properties
[ ] Coordinate geometry formulas
[ ] Mensuration formulas for all shapes
[ ] Trigonometric ratios and identities
[ ] Practice questions from each topic
[ ] Previous year CAT questions solved

10. IMPORTANT FORMULAS QUICK REFERENCE

Triangle Area Methods

1. ½ × base × height
2. √[s(s-a)(s-b)(s-c)] (Heron's)
3. ½ab sin C
4. (√3/4)a² (Equilateral)

Circle Key Formulas

Circumference: 2πr
Area: πr²
Arc length: (θ/360°) × 2πr
Sector area: (θ/360°) × πr²

Coordinate Geometry Essentials

Distance: √[(x₂-x₁)² + (y₂-y₁)²]
Midpoint: ((x₁+x₂)/2, (y₁+y₂)/2)
Slope: (y₂-y₁)/(x₂-x₁)

3D Volume Formulas
Cube: a³
Cuboid: lbh
Cylinder: πr²h
Cone: ⅓πr²h
 Sphere: (4/3)πr³

Remember: Geometry is highly visual - always draw diagrams and practice

regularly for best results in CAT!