Equations Tip for MCAT Preparation

 

Equations Are Tools, Not Goals

Many students treat equations like finish lines — memorizing dozens of formulas and trying to plug and chug. But on the MCAT, equations are tools for reasoning, not just calculation.

What this really means:

• The MCAT doesn’t care if you memorized 100 formulas. It wants to know:
  Can you understand the relationship between variables and apply that understanding in unfamiliar scenarios?

How to Apply This Strategy:

1. Focus on Relationships, Not Numbers

Instead of immediately reaching for your calculator (which you won’t have), ask:

"If I increase x, what happens to y?"

For example, with the equation:
P = F/A (Pressure = Force / Area)

Don’t memorize it just to plug in. Think:

• “If area decreases, and force is constant, pressure must go up.”

• That’s an inverse relationship — exactly the kind the MCAT likes to test conceptually.

2. Use Dimensional Analysis

If you forget a formula, units can often help reconstruct it.

Example:
You forget the formula for work. You know:

• Work has units of Joules = kg·m²/s²

• Force = mass × acceleration (kg·m/s²)

• Distance = m

Multiply Force × Distance:
(kg·m/s²) × m = kg·m²/s² = Joules
→ You just derived W = F × d by understanding units!

3. Rearranging Is Key

You rarely need to solve for a specific number. Often the MCAT will give you an equation like:
v² = v₀² + 2aΔx

…and ask: What happens to final velocity if displacement doubles?

You can skip plugging in and just compare values. You're being tested on trends more than precision.

4. Simplify Your Math

The MCAT rewards estimation over exact calculation.

Instead of solving:
P = 456 N / 0.32 m²,
estimate it as ~450 / 0.3 = 1500

You'll often see answer choices spaced widely enough to make smart approximations work.

Final Thought:

Top scorers don’t memorize more — they reason more. Treat every formula like a lens to understand how changing one thing affects another. Practice seeing proportions, trends, and patterns — especially in physics, fluids, electrostatics, and circuits.