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

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.For the equation 2x + 3 = 11, and the inequality 2x + 3 > 11, which statement correctly compares their solutions?
(a)The equation has one solution; the inequality has many.
(b)Both have exactly one solution.
(c)Both have many solutions.
(d)The equation has many solutions; the inequality has one.
2.Factorise fully 5x + 5y − 5
(a)5(xy − 1)
(b)5(x + y + 1)
(c)5(x + y − 1)
(d)5(x + y − 5)
3.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
4.The graph of y = mx + 6 passes through the point (−2, 0). Work out the value of m.
(a)−3
(b)−2
(c)3
(d)6
5.A geometric sequence starts at 4, and each term after that is found by multiplying the term before it by 3. Write down the first four terms of the sequence.
(a)4, 12, 15, 18
(b)4, 12, 36, 108
(c)4, 7, 10, 13
(d)12, 36, 108, 324
6.The braking distance of a car, in metres, is estimated using the formula d = 0.4v² + 6, where v is the speed in mph. A car travelling at 35 mph brakes. Work out the estimated braking distance.
(a)202
(b)490
(c)496
(d)20
7.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
8.The solution to an inequality is n ≤ 5. Write down the largest integer value of n that satisfies this inequality.
(a)5
(b)4
(c)6
(d)−5
9.A graph has equation y = x² − 6x + 5. A student says its turning point has x-coordinate 6, because that's the coefficient of x. Which statement corrects the student's mistake?
y = x² − 6x + 5
(a)The student is correct, because the turning point's x-coordinate always equals the coefficient of x.
(b)The turning point has x-coordinate −6, because the sign of the coefficient must be reversed.
(c)The turning point has x-coordinate 5, because that is the larger of the equation's two roots.
(d)The roots of x² − 6x + 5 = 0 are x = 1 and x = 5 (since it factorises to (x − 1)(x − 5)), so by symmetry the turning point has x-coordinate 3, not 6.
10.The formula for the area of a trapezium is A = (a + b)h / 2, where a and b are the parallel side lengths and h is the height. Make h the subject of the formula.
(a)h = 2A / a + b
(b)h = (a + b) / (2A)
(c)h = A / (a + b)
(d)h = 2A / (a + b)
11.Simplify (5x² + 3x − 2) − (2x² − x + 5)
(a)3x² + 4x + 3
(b)3x² + 2x + 3
(c)7x² + 2x + 3
(d)3x² + 4x − 7
12.Solve x² − 100 = 0.
(a)x = 10 or x = −10
(b)x = 10
(c)x = 100 or x = −100
(d)x = 50
13.Solve the simultaneous equations 2x + y = 7 and x + 2y = 8.
(a)x = 2, y = 5
(b)x = 3, y = 2
(c)x = 2, y = 3
(d)x = −2, y = 11
14.A table shows values of y = x² − x − 6 for x from −3 to 4: at x = −3, y = 6; x = −2, y = 0; x = −1, y = −4; x = 0, y = −6; x = 1, y = −6; x = 2, y = −4; x = 3, y = 0; x = 4, y = 6. Using the table, write down the two roots of x² − x − 6 = 0.
y = x²
(a)x = −1 and x = 2
(b)x = −3 and x = 4
(c)x = 0 and x = 1
(d)x = −2 and x = 3
15.A student says that 5(x + 2) is equivalent to 5x + 2. Which statement explains why the student is wrong?
(a)Addition must always be done before multiplication, so 5(x + 2) equals 5x + 10 only when x = 0.
(b)The bracket must be worked out first using a value of x, so the two expressions can only be compared once x is known.
(c)The 5 must multiply both terms inside the bracket, so 5(x + 2) expands to 5x + 10, which is never equal to 5x + 2 for any value of x.
(d)5(x + 2) means 5 × x + 2, so the student's answer of 5x + 2 is actually correct.

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