Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.The equation x³ − 5x − 3 = 0 can be rearranged to give an iterative formula of the form xₙ₊₁ = ∛(…). Work out which one of these is a correct rearrangement.

2.A gas company charges a standing charge plus a rate per unit used. The total cost, y in pounds, for using x units is given by y = 0.15x + 20. Work out the cost of using 200 units.

3.Kai writes the expression 8 − 3x + 5x² and says it has three terms. Ryan says it only has two terms because a number on its own is not a term. Work out the correct number of terms in the expression.

4.A plumber charges a call-out fee of £30 plus £25 for each hour worked. The total bill for a job was £130. Work out how many hours the plumber worked.

5.A circle has centre (0, 0) and equation x² + y² = 50. Work out the length of the diameter of the circle, correct to 1 decimal place.

6.A circular pond has equation x² + y² = 20, with lengths in metres from the centre of the garden. A straight path runs along the line y = 2x, entering the pond and leaving it again. Work out the coordinates of the two points where the path meets the edge of the pond.

7.A Fibonacci-type sequence is defined by aₙ = aₙ₋₁ + aₙ₋₂ for n ≥ 3. Given that a₁ = 5 and a₃ = 17, work out a₂.

8.Two numbers have a sum of 45. The larger number is 9 more than the smaller number. Form an equation using n for the smaller number, and solve it to find the larger number.

9.A coastguard radar at the origin covers a circular region modelled by x² + y² = 400, where each unit represents 1 kilometre. A boat travels along the straight line that touches the boundary of the region at the point (12, 16). Work out the equation of the line the boat travels along.

10.The equation x³ + 4x − 9 = 0 is to be solved by iteration. Work out which one of these iterative formulas comes from a correct rearrangement of that equation.

11.Solve the inequality 6.3x + 1.8 ≤ 40. Hence write down the greatest number with exactly one decimal place that satisfies the inequality.

12.Four sequences are shown below. Sequence P: 4, 8, 16, 32, ... Sequence Q: 4, 8, 12, 16, ... Sequence R: 4, 7, 12, 19, ... Sequence S: 4, 9, 16, 25, ... Work out which of the sequences P, Q, R and S is geometric.

13.A cyclist accelerates uniformly from rest to 6 m/s in 4 seconds, travels at a constant 6 m/s for 10 seconds, then decelerates uniformly to rest in 3 seconds. Work out the total distance the cyclist travels.

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

15.Mia buys 3 identical notebooks and a pen costing £1.50. She pays a total of £9.90. Form an equation using n for the cost of one notebook, and solve it to find n.