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 · 15 questions

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1.A graph has equation y = −2x² + 5. Which statement about its shape is correct?
y = -2x² + 5
(a)It is U-shaped, since x² is always positive.
(b)It is a straight line, because of the constant term +5.
(c)It repeatedly rises and falls, like a wave shape.
(d)It is n-shaped, since the x² coefficient is negative.
2.To solve 5x − 4 = 2x + 8, Chloe's working is shown. Line 1: 5x − 4 = 2x + 8. Line 2: 3x − 4 = 8. Line 3: 3x = 4. Line 4: x = 4/3. Chloe has made a mistake in her working. Which line contains the mistake?
(a)Line 1
(b)Line 2
(c)Line 4
(d)Line 3
3.The first five terms of a sequence are 6, 10, 14, 18, 22. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
(a)6n + 4
(b)4n + 6
(c)4n − 2
(d)4n + 2
4.Given that (x − 4)(x + 9) = 0, write down the two solutions of x.
(a)x = −4 or x = 9
(b)x = 4 or x = 9
(c)x = −4 or x = −9
(d)x = 4 or x = −9
5.In which quadrant does the point (−3, 0.5) lie?
(a)the second quadrant
(b)the fourth quadrant
(c)the third quadrant
(d)the first quadrant
6.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
7.A scout leader is 44 years old and one of the scouts is 16 years old. Work out how many years it will be until the leader is exactly twice as old as the scout.
(a)6 years
(b)12 years
(c)14 years
(d)28 years
8.Two expressions are 4(x + 3) and 4x + 3. A student checks whether they are equivalent by substituting x = 2. Which statement correctly interprets the result?
(a)4(x + 3) = 20 and 4x + 3 = 11 when x = 2, so the two expressions are not equivalent, because the bracket means the 3 must be added before multiplying by 4.
(b)4(x + 3) = 11 and 4x + 3 = 11 when x = 2, since the bracket has no effect on the multiplication, so the two expressions are equivalent.
(c)4(x + 3) = 20 and 4x + 3 = 11 when x = 2, but the two expressions are equivalent because both involve the same terms, 4x and 3.
(d)4(x + 3) = 20 and 4x + 3 = 11 when x = 2, so the two expressions are not equivalent, but they would become equal for some larger value of x.
9.The nth term of a sequence is 2n − 1. Work out the 6th term of the sequence.
(a)11
(b)7
(c)9
(d)12
10.Which of these equations gives a straight-line graph when plotted?
(a)y = 3/x
(b)y = 2x − 3
(c)y = x³ − 3
(d)y = x² − 3
11.A company's profit was £2000 in its first year. Each following year, the profit increases by £800. Work out the first year in which the profit is more than £7000.
(a)9
(b)6
(c)7
(d)8
12.Write down the expression that means the same as w ÷ 6.
(a)6w
(b)6/w
(c)w/6
(d)w − 6
13.Solve 5x − 9 = 16
(a)1.4
(b)5
(c)25
(d)3.2
14.A company charges for hiring chairs for a day. Hiring 1 chair costs £12, hiring 2 chairs costs £19, hiring 3 chairs costs £26, and hiring 4 chairs costs £33. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the cost in pounds of hiring n chairs for a day.
(a)7n
(b)12n + 7
(c)7n + 12
(d)7n + 5
15.A walker's distance-time graph is described as follows: she walks 3 km in the first 15 minutes at a steady speed, rests for 10 minutes, then walks a further 3 km in the next 20 minutes, also at a steady speed. Work out her speed, in km/h, during the first 15 minutes.
(a)12 km/h
(b)9 km/h
(c)8 km/h
(d)0.2 km/h

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