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.

Non-calculator

VersionsA only A + B A + B + Csame questions, different order

AnswersQuestions only With answer key Key only

CalculatorMixed Non-calculator (Paper 1)Calculator (Papers 2 and 3)

New sheet

Algebra worksheet — GCSE Foundation

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

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.A quadratic graph y = ax² + bx + c has its turning point on the y-axis. Which statement about its roots must be true?
(a)The two roots must both be positive.
(b)The graph has no roots at all.
(c)The graph must touch the x-axis at exactly one point.
(d)If the graph has two real roots, they are equal and opposite in value, so they sum to zero.
2.Solve x² − 2x − 24 = 0.
(a)x = 6 or x = −4
(b)x = −6 or x = 4
(c)x = −8 or x = 3
(d)x = −6 or x = −4
3.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
4.A square tile has an area of 144 cm². Work out the side length of the tile.
(a)12 cm or −12 cm
(b)72 cm
(c)12 cm
(d)36 cm
5.The nth term of a sequence is 4n − 3. Work out the 7th term of the sequence.
(a)29
(b)25
(c)28
(d)16
6.Solve 4x² − 9 = 0.
(a)x = 3/2 or x = −3/2
(b)x = 3/2 only
(c)x = 3 or x = −3
(d)x = 9/4 or x = −9/4
7.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.
8.Two brothers have ages that add up to 30. The elder brother is 6 years older than the younger brother. Work out the age of the younger brother.
(a)24
(b)18
(c)15
(d)12
9.A plumber charges a call-out fee plus an hourly rate for a job. The total cost, £C, for a job lasting h hours is given by the formula C = 40 + 25h. What does the number 40 represent in this formula?
(a)The total cost for a job lasting 1 hour.
(b)The hourly rate the plumber charges.
(c)The number of hours worked before charging starts.
(d)The fixed call-out fee, charged before the hourly rate.
10.Work out the values of x and y that satisfy both x + y = 10 and x − y = 4.
(a)x = 14, y = −4
(b)x = 7, y = 3
(c)x = 5, y = 5
(d)x = 7, y = 4
11.A number machine multiplies its input by 3 and then adds 7. The output is 1. Work out the input.
(a)2
(b)−18
(c)−6
(d)−2
12.A sequence begins at 60, and each term after that is found by subtracting 7 from the term before it. Work out the 5th term of the sequence.
(a)88
(b)39
(c)32
(d)25
13.Which of these equations gives a graph shaped like a U, symmetrical about a vertical line?
(a)y = x² + 2
(b)y = 2x + 2
(c)y = 2/x
(d)y = x³ + 2
14.Point P has coordinates (5, 2). Point P is rotated 180° about the origin to point Q. Write down the coordinates of Q.
(a)(2, 5)
(b)(−5, −2)
(c)(−5, 2)
(d)(5, −2)
15.A taxi firm charges a fixed fee of £3.50 plus £2.20 per mile. Work out the total cost of a journey of 6 miles.
(a)£13.20
(b)£15.50
(c)£34.20
(d)£16.70

Build your own mix at the worksheet builder.