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

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1.To rearrange the formula y = 3x − 8 to make x the subject, Priya writes: 'Add 8 to both sides to get y + 8 = 3x, then divide both sides by 3 to get x = y + 8 ÷ 3.' Work out the correct expression for x.
y = 3x − 8
(a)x = 3(y + 8)
(b)x = (y − 8) / 3
(c)x = y + 8 / 3
(d)x = (y + 8) / 3
2.Which of these is a factor of 15x + 20?
(a)5
(b)3
(c)4
(d)10
3.Write down the coordinates of the point that is 4 units to the left of the origin and 7 units up.
(a)(−4, −7)
(b)(7, −4)
(c)(−4, 7)
(d)(4, 7)
4.Which expression is equivalent to 7x − 3(2x − 6)?
(a)13x − 18
(b)x − 18
(c)x + 18
(d)x + 6
5.The triangular numbers begin 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, ... Work out the next term in the sequence.
(a)25
(b)20
(c)18
(d)21
6.A ball's height, h metres, t seconds after being thrown follows h = (t − 1)(9 − t). Given that the ball is at ground level at t = 1 and t = 9, work out at what time t the ball reaches its maximum height, using symmetry.
(a)t = 4
(b)t = 8
(c)t = 10
(d)t = 5
7.A sequence has the position-to-term rule n² − 3, where n is the position number. Work out the difference between the 6th term and the 5th term.
(a)11
(b)−11
(c)1
(d)8
8.Solve the inequality 4x + 1 > 2x + 9.
(a)x > 5
(b)x < 5
(c)x < 4
(d)x > 4
9.The point B has coordinates (−2, −2). In which quadrant is B?
(a)the fourth quadrant
(b)the second quadrant
(c)the first quadrant
(d)the third quadrant
10.Work out the value of n² − n when n = −3
(a)6
(b)−3
(c)−6
(d)12
11.A sequence begins at 7. Each term after the first is found by adding 6 to the term before it. Work out the 6th term of the sequence.
(a)43
(b)37
(c)25
(d)31
12.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.
13.Write down the expression that means the same as p + p + p + q.
(a)3p + q
(b)3(p + q)
(c)p³ + q
(d)3pq
14.The height, h metres, of a ball t seconds after a stopwatch is started follows h = (t − 1)(5 − t) for 1 ≤ t ≤ 5, where h = 0 means the ball is at ground level. Work out the two times at which the ball is at ground level.
(a)t = 1 second and t = 4 seconds
(b)t = 1 second and t = −5 seconds
(c)t = 1 second and t = 5 seconds
(d)t = −1 second and t = 5 seconds
15.Which of these is an equation, rather than an expression, a formula or an identity?
(a)3x + 5
(b)A = πr²
(c)3x + 5 = 17
(d)3(x + 5) ≡ 3x + 15

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