Printable · GCSE Foundation · ages 14-16

Algebra worksheet — GCSE Foundation

Fifteen questions across the algebra statements at Foundation tier. Choose the non-calculator filter to rehearse Paper 1, which counts for a third of the marks.

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Algebra worksheet — GCSE Foundation

Maths · GCSE Foundation · Algebra · Non-calculator · 15 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.Harry will spend at most £150 on a party. The cake costs £60 and each helium balloon costs £3. Solve an inequality to find all the possible numbers of balloons, x, that he can buy.
(a)x ≥ 30
(b)x ≤ 50
(c)x ≤ 90
(d)x ≤ 30
2.A phone company works out a monthly bill, £B, using the formula B = 18 + 0.05t, where £18 is the fixed monthly charge and t is the number of extra text messages sent beyond the free allowance, each charged at 5p. Farida's bill for one month is £24.50. Work out the number of extra text messages, t, she sent.
(a)130
(b)13
(c)65
(d)490
3.A number machine adds 6 to its input. Work out the output when the input is −4.
(a)10
(b)−10
(c)2
(d)−24
4.Isla says that the lines y = 2x + 1 and y = −2x + 3 are parallel. Write down the statement that gives the correct answer for the correct reason.
y = 2x + 1y = -2x + 3
(a)Yes, because the gradients 2 and −2 add to 0
(b)No, because their gradients are 2 and −2
(c)Yes, because both gradients have size 2
(d)No, because their y-intercepts are 1 and 3
5.The graph of y = (x − 4)(x + 1) crosses the x-axis. Which pair gives the correct roots and reasoning?
(a)x = −4 and x = −1, because the roots are always the negative of the numbers shown in the brackets.
(b)x = 4 and x = 1, because both brackets must be positive at the roots.
(c)x = 4 and x = −1, because the graph crosses the x-axis where x − 4 = 0 or x + 1 = 0.
(d)x = −4 and x = 1, because the signs inside the brackets must be reversed to solve them.
6.The first four terms of a sequence are 4, 6, 8, 10. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
(a)2n + 4
(b)2n
(c)2n + 2
(d)2n − 2
7.Which expression is equivalent to 2(x + 6)?
(a)2x + 8
(b)x + 12
(c)2x + 12
(d)2x + 6
8.Factorise x² − 3x − 10.
(a)(x − 10)(x + 1)
(b)(x − 5)(x + 2)
(c)(x + 5)(x − 2)
(d)(x − 5)(x − 2)
9.A straight line has equation y = 5x. Work out the value of y when x = 3.
y = 5x
(a)8
(b)3
(c)−15
(d)15
10.A straight line has gradient −2 and passes through the point (3, 1). Work out the equation of the line.
(a)y = −2x + 7
(b)y = −2x − 5
(c)y = 2x + 7
(d)y = −2x + 1
11.A speed-time graph for a car shows the speed increasing steadily from 5 m/s to 17 m/s over 6 seconds. Work out the acceleration of the car, in m/s².
(a)2 m/s²
(b)22 m/s²
(c)12 m/s²
(d)72 m/s²
12.In a shop a shirt costs £x and a pair of trousers costs £(2x + 30). Together the two items cost at least £150. Work out the lowest possible price of the shirt.
(a)£50
(b)£120
(c)£60
(d)£40
13.A student is asked whether 3(x − 4) = 3x − 4 is an identity. Which statement gives the correct verdict and reason?
(a)It is an identity, because both sides begin with the term 3x, so they must be equivalent.
(b)It is not even an ordinary equation with a solution: expanding the left-hand side gives 3x − 12, and 3x − 12 = 3x − 4 would require −12 = −4, which is never true.
(c)It is not an identity, because the student forgot to multiply the 4 by 3 on both sides of the equation.
(d)It is not an identity, because the student needs to substitute a specific value of x before comparing the two sides.
14.A rectangular sheep pen has perimeter P, length l and width w, connected by the formula P = 2l + 2w. A farmer has 60 m of fencing for the perimeter and sets the width at 8 m. Work out the length of the pen.
(a)30 m
(b)11 m
(c)22 m
(d)38 m
15.Here are the first five terms of an arithmetic sequence: 2, 5, 8, 11, 14. Work out the 8th term.
(a)20
(b)26
(c)24
(d)23

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