18 demanding questions: algebraic proof, functions, vectors, histograms, conditional probability and iteration.
🔺 Higher stretch — grade 8 and 9 topics
The top of a Higher paper is not the same content done faster — it is the statements that only appear at the top, and questions that hide two steps inside one instruction. This sheet gathers eighteen of them: algebraic proof and showing two expressions are equivalent, inverse and composite functions, transformations of graphs, the equation of a circle and its tangent, iteration, vectors used to construct a geometric argument, histograms with unequal class intervals, and conditional probability from a tree or a Venn diagram. It is deliberately hard and deliberately short. If you get half of it out, you are working where grades 8 and 9 are decided — and the worked answers are written to show the step that was actually being tested, not just the arithmetic around it.
- 1.The point (6, 8) lies on the circle x² + y² = 100. Work out the gradient of the tangent to the circle at (6, 8).
- 2.m is the column vector with top number 4 and bottom number 6. n is the column vector with top number −6 and bottom number −9. Given that n = k × m for some number k, work out the value of k.
- 3.Two fair six-sided dice are rolled and the two scores are added together. Given that at least one of the dice shows a 5, work out the probability that the total is 8.
- 4.f(x) = x + 3 and g(x) = 2x. Work out fg(x).y = x + 3
- 5.The iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = √(2xₙ + 15) is used repeatedly, starting from x₀ = 1. Work out the value that xₙ approaches, correct to 2 decimal places.
- 6.A circular running track is modelled on a grid whose centre is the origin, where each unit represents 1 metre. A floodlight at the point (30, 40) stands on the edge of the track. A second floodlight stands on the edge of the track at the point (0, k), where k is positive. Work out the value of k.
- 7.e is the column vector with top number 5 and bottom number k. f is the column vector with top number 15 and bottom number 6. Given that f is 3 times e, work out the value of k.
- 8.f(x) = x³ − 5x − 6. Given that f(2.6) = −1.424 and f(2.7) = 0.183, work out what this shows about the equation x³ − 5x − 6 = 0.y = x
- 9.A histogram shows the speeds, v mph, of 100 vehicles passing a checkpoint. The bar for 0 ≤ v < 20 has a frequency density of 1 vehicle per mph, the bar for 20 ≤ v < 30 has a frequency density of 3 vehicles per mph, the bar for 30 ≤ v < 50 has a frequency density of 2 vehicles per mph, and the bar for 50 ≤ v < 70 has a frequency density of 0.5 vehicles per mph. Estimate the mean speed of the vehicles.
- 10.The point A(−6, 8) lies on the circle x² + y² = 100, whose centre is the origin O. The tangent to the circle at A crosses the y-axis at the point B. Work out the length of OB.
- 11.At a garden centre, 3/5 of the plants for sale are perennials. 1/4 of the perennials are in flower. Work out the probability that a plant picked at random from the garden centre is a perennial and is in flower.
- 12.A box holds 5 blue pens and 7 black pens. Two pens are taken at random, one at a time, and are not put back. The first pen taken is black. Work out the probability that the second pen taken is blue.
- 13.OABC is a parallelogram, with OA = a and OC = c. X is the midpoint of the diagonal AC. Express the vector OX in terms of a and c, and use it to show that X also lies on the diagonal OB.
- 14.The graph of y = 2x² + 6x − 1 is translated by the vector (−2, 0). Work out the equation of the image, giving your answer in the form y = 2x² + bx + c.y = 2x² + 6x − 1y = 2x²
- 15.A circle has centre O(0, 0) and equation x² + y² = 169. The point Q has coordinates (10, 11). Work out which of these gives the correct position of Q together with correct working.
- 16.A histogram is drawn for the masses, m grams, of 200 letters. The bar for 0 ≤ m < 50 has a frequency density of 1.2 per gram and the bar for 50 ≤ m < 100 has a frequency density of 1.8 per gram. All the remaining letters lie in the class 100 ≤ m < 200. Work out the frequency density of the bar for 100 ≤ m < 200.
- 17.OAB is a triangle, with OA = a and OB = b. E lies on OA produced beyond A, such that A is the midpoint of OE. F lies on AB such that FB is twice AF. G is the midpoint of OB. By finding the vectors EF and EG, show that E, F and G are collinear, and give the scalar k such that EF = k × EG.
- 18.OABC is a parallelogram, with OA = a and OC = c. M is the midpoint of OC, and N is the point on AC such that AN is twice NC. By finding the vectors MN and MB, show that M, N and B are collinear, and give the scalar k such that MN = k × MB.
What is on this worksheet?
The sheet holds 18 questions drawn from the MathsUK bank — the content areas covered: Algebra, Geometry and measures, Probability, Statistics (statements A6, A7, A13, A16, A20, G25, S3, P9). It is pitched at GCSE Higher and takes about 50 minutes to work through in full. It is built for independent practice, with full answers at the end for self-marking.
How to use the sheet well
- Print it or open it on screen — both work. Printing is A4; the screen view fits phones and tablets.
- Do all 18 questions before checking — about 50 minutes is the guide, but there is no time pressure.
- Check the answers — press “Show answers” or print the answer page separately.
- Redo the questions you got wrong — twice as effective as doing 18 fresh ones.
- “New questions” — builds a fresh sheet on the same statements, so you can practise again without repeats.
Why this sheet helps
MathsUK worksheets use questions graded by difficulty and a fair spread of correct-answer positions (the answer is not always (a)) — so the student really has to think about each question rather than guess a pattern. Every question is tagged to a DfE content statement and checked before it enters the bank. The answers come with a step-by-step explanation, not just a value — so a wrong answer becomes a lesson.
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