One of the topics making its debut on the new SAT is basic trigonometry. However, The College Board tells us that “these questions can be answered using trigonometric methods, but may also be answered using other methods.”

Sheesh. So you could spend tons of time learning a difficult subject, or you could just use your knowledge of triangles to answer these items. Look at this figure:

You could solve for x using the trigonometric equation , or you could use your knowledge of 30-60-90 right triangles to determine that the leg opposite the 30˚ is half the hypotenuse. Either way your answer would be 10. The important thing to remember here is that any trig item on the SAT can be solved using basic geometry.

Life’s too short. If you don’t already know trig, forget learning it for the SAT. Move on!