18 demanding questions: algebraic proof, functions, vectors, histograms, conditional probability and iteration.

🔺 Higher stretch — grade 8 and 9 topics

Maths · GCSE Higher · 18 questions · ~50 min

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

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.For two events A and B, P(A) = 0.6 and P(A and B) = 0.15. Work out P(B | A).
(a)0.15
(b)0.09
(c)0.25
(d)0.45
2.A rule multiplies the input by a fixed number and then adds a fixed number. An input of 1 gives an output of 5, and an input of 3 gives an output of 11. Work out the rule, writing the input as x and the output as y.
(a)y = 3x − 2
(b)y = x + 4
(c)y = 3x + 2
(d)y = 2x + 3
3.A circle has centre (0, 0) and equation x² + y² = 50. Work out the length of the diameter of the circle, correct to 1 decimal place.
(a)100.0
(b)25.0
(c)14.1
(d)7.1
4.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.
(a)18
(b)9
(c)3
(d)2
5.A student uses the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = √(7xₙ + 3) to find an approximate solution of an equation. Work out which equation this iterative formula solves.
(a)x² + 7x − 3 = 0
(b)x² − 7x + 3 = 0
(c)x² − 7x − 9 = 0
(d)x² − 7x − 3 = 0
6.A proof that the product of two consecutive even numbers is always a multiple of 8 begins: Let the two consecutive even numbers be 2n and 2n + 2, so their product is 2n(2n + 2) = 4n(n + 1). Which line correctly completes the proof?
(a)4n(n + 1) is a multiple of 4, and because n and n + 1 are consecutive integers, it must be a multiple of 8.
(b)Expanding gives 4n(n + 1) = 4n² + 4n, which is clearly a multiple of 8.
(c)4n is always a multiple of 4 for any integer n, so 4n(n + 1) is a multiple of 4 as well, which means it is a multiple of 8.
(d)n and n + 1 are consecutive integers, so one of them must be even; this makes n(n + 1) even, so 4n(n + 1) is 4 × an even number, which is a multiple of 8.
7.A number machine multiplies its input by 2 and then subtracts 5. Work out the output when the input is 6.
(a)7
(b)17
(c)12
(d)2
8.In a group of 50 people, 32 own a car, 20 own a bicycle and 9 own both a car and a bicycle. A person who owns a bicycle is picked at random. Work out the probability that this person does not own a car.
(a)11/50
(b)11/20
(c)9/20
(d)11/32
9.A circle has centre (0, 0) and radius 9. Work out the equation of the circle.
(a)x² + y² = 18
(b)x² + y² = 81
(c)x² − y² = 81
(d)x² + y² = 9
10.OABC is a parallelogram, with OA = a and OC = c. M is the midpoint of AB. Express the vector OM in terms of a and c.
(a)a − (1/2)c
(b)a + c
(c)a + (1/2)c
(d)(1/2)a + (1/2)c
11.A vet records the masses, m kg, of the dogs seen in one week as a histogram. The bar for 0 ≤ m < 5 has a frequency density of 4 per kg, the bar for 5 ≤ m < 15 has a frequency density of 2.6 per kg, and the bar for 15 ≤ m < 40 has a frequency density of 1.2 per kg. Work out the total number of dogs seen that week.
(a)7.8
(b)39
(c)76
(d)107
12.Which of these is an identity?
(a)2(3x + 1) = 6x + 2
(b)5x + 1 = 5(x + 1)
(c)7 − x = x − 7
(d)4x − 3 = 3x + 5
13.A company has 400 employees. 150 of them work part time and 160 of them cycle to work. Working part time and cycling to work are independent. Work out how many of the employees you would expect both to work part time and to cycle to work.
(a)10
(b)60
(c)310
(d)75
14.A plumber charges a call-out fee of £30 plus £25 per hour worked. Work out the total charge for a job that takes 3 hours.
(a)£165
(b)£105
(c)£75
(d)£90
15.The equation x² − x − 6 = 0 has roots x = 3 and x = −2. It can be rearranged as xₙ₊₁ = xₙ² − 6. This formula is used with starting value x₀ = 2.9, close to the root x = 3. Work out what happens to the sequence of values as n increases.
(a)The sequence settles towards x = 3
(b)The sequence stays constant at x = 2.9
(c)The sequence diverges, moving away from x = 3
(d)The sequence settles towards x = −2
16.A proof that (n + 3)² − (n − 3)² is always a multiple of a certain number begins: Line 1: (n + 3)² − (n − 3)² = (n² + 6n + 9) − (n² − 6n + 9). Which expression correctly completes Line 2?
(a)18
(b)12n
(c)6n
(d)2n² + 18
17.The graph of y = f(x) has x-intercepts at x = −1 and x = 4. Which statement correctly describes the x-intercepts of y = f(2 − x)?
(a)Translate +2 in x only (no reflection); roots 1, 6
(b)Solved 2 − x = k as x = k − 2; roots −3, 2
(c)No overall change; roots −1, 4
(d)Reflect in the y-axis, +2 in x; roots 3, −2
18.A circle has equation x² + y² = 49. Work out the coordinates of the point(s) on the circle where the tangent is horizontal.
(a)(0, 7) and (0, −7)
(b)(7, 0) and (−7, 0)
(c)(7, 0) only
(d)(0, 7) only

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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