Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.Work out the value of 5m² + 3m when m = −2.4

2.A stack of firewood has 3 logs in the top layer. Each layer below has 4 more logs than the layer above it. Work out the number of logs in the 6th layer from the top.

3.A circle has centre (0, 0) and passes through the point (12, 35). Work out the equation of the circle.

4.The table shows the velocity, in m/s, of a train at various times, in seconds: 0 at t = 0, 20 at t = 4, 35 at t = 10, 27 at t = 14. Assuming the velocity changes at a constant rate between each pair of readings, estimate the distance the train travels between t = 0 and t = 12, using the trapezium rule.

5.A cup of tea cools after being made. Its temperature-time graph is a curve. Three tangents are drawn on the graph: at t = 2 minutes the tangent has gradient −8; at t = 10 minutes the tangent has gradient −3; at t = 20 minutes the tangent has gradient −0.5. Which of these statements about the tea's cooling is correct?

6.A taxi company charges a £2.50 booking fee plus £1.80 per mile. A journey costs £15.10 in total. Work out the number of miles travelled.

7.The table shows the height, in metres, of a firework rocket at various times, in seconds, during its flight: 40 at t = 2, 54 at t = 3, and 60 at t = 4. Use the chord between t = 2 and t = 4 to estimate the gradient of the height-time graph at t = 3, stating the correct units.

8.Amelia's mother is three times as old as Amelia. Four years ago her mother was five times as old as Amelia was then. Work out Amelia's age now.

9.Show that the equation x³ − x − 3 = 0 has a solution between x = 1 and x = 2, by working out f(1) and f(2), where f(x) = x³ − x − 3.

10.A population of bacteria doubles every 3 hours. It starts at 800. Work out the population after 9 hours.

11.A rectangle has width x cm. Its length is 3 cm more than its width. The perimeter of the rectangle is 38 cm. Form an equation and solve it to find x.

12.An exponential graph y = A × rˣ passes through the points (0, 8) and (2, 18). Work out the value of r, correct to 2 decimal places.

13.The equation 7x = x² + 3 can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = (xₙ² + 3) ÷ 7. Taking x₀ = 0.4, x₁ = 0.4514 correct to 4 decimal places. Using the full unrounded value of x₁, work out x₂ correct to 3 decimal places.

14.A van's value depreciates by 18% each year. After 2 years it is worth £5,379.20. Work out its value when it was new, correct to the nearest pound.

15.A phone plan costs a fixed £15 per month plus 8p per minute of calls. In one month, Jamal's bill was £23.80. Form an equation using m for the number of minutes, and solve it to find how many minutes Jamal used that month.