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Test Desmos Speed
DIGITAL SAT STRATEGY · 60%+ OF QUESTIONS SOLVABLE ON DESMOS

The Ultimate Digital SAT Desmos Cheat Sheet.
Solve in 15 seconds.

The built-in Desmos graphing calculator on Bluebook is the most powerful tool on the Digital SAT. Master these 10 syntax hacks to bypass difficult manual algebra and avoid calculation errors.

Top 10 SAT Desmos Tactics

Copy these exact syntax rules into your Desmos calculator on practice tests.

HACK 01 · SYSTEMS

Find Intersections Without Elimination

Type both linear/nonlinear equations into separate rows. Click the gray dot at the intersection point to view $(x, y)$.

Row 1: 3x - 5y = 17
Row 2: 2x + y = 7
// Dot click → (4, -1)
HACK 02 · ROOTS & FACTORS

Find Solutions & X-Intercepts

Set quadratic or polynomial expressions equal to 0, or type $y = f(x)$ and click the x-axis intercepts for exact roots.

y = 2x² - 7x - 15
// X-Intercepts: x = -1.5, x = 5
HACK 03 · VERTEX & PEAKS

Instant Min/Max Reading

Click the crest or trough of any parabola to directly read the maximum height or minimum cost $(h, k)$.

y = -4.9t² + 24t + 1.8
// Vertex Peak: (2.45, 31.18)
HACK 04 · SLIDERS

Find Constant 'k' for Single Solution

When an equation contains unknown constant $k$, add a slider for $k$ and drag until the graph touches at exactly 1 point (tangency).

x² + kx + 9 = 0
// Slider k=6 or k=-6 → 1 solution
HACK 05 · REGRESSION

Table Linear & Exponential Regression

Add table `(x₁, y₁)`. Type `y₁ ~ mx₁ + b` for line of best fit, or `y₁ ~ ab^(x₁)` for exponential curve fitting.

y₁ ~ mx₁ + b
// Computes exact m & b
HACK 06 · EQUIVALENCE

Verify Equivalent Expressions

To check which answer choice (A, B, C, D) matches a complex expression, subtract the choice: `Original - Choice = 0` (flat line on y=0).

(2x + 3)(x - 5) - (2x² - 7x - 15)
// Graphs horizontal line y = 0
HACK 07 · CIRCLES

Expanded Circle Center & Radius

Enter unfactored circle equation $x^2 + y^2 - 10x + 6y = 15$. Click opposite edge points to compute diameter and center.

x² + y² - 10x + 6y = 15
// Center at (5, -3), Radius = 7
HACK 08 · STATS

List Mean, Median & StDev

Create list `L = [12, 15, 18, 22, 29]`. Use `mean(L)`, `median(L)`, and `stdev(L)` to solve data spread questions without typos.

L = [14, 18, 22, 25, 31, 38]
mean(L) = 24.67, median(L) = 23.5