Printable · GCSE Higher · ages 14-16

Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

Fifteen questions across the algebra statements at Higher tier. Choose the non-calculator filter to rehearse Paper 1, which counts for a third of the marks.

Calculator

VersionsA only A + B A + B + Csame questions, different order

AnswersQuestions only With answer key Key only

CalculatorMixed Non-calculator (Paper 1)Calculator (Papers 2 and 3)

New sheet

Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

Maths · GCSE Higher · Algebra · Calculator · 15 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.A student uses the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = √(7xₙ + 3) to find an approximate solution of an equation. Work out which equation this iterative formula solves.
(a)x² + 7x − 3 = 0
(b)x² − 7x + 3 = 0
(c)x² − 7x − 9 = 0
(d)x² − 7x − 3 = 0
2.A taxi fare, in pounds, for a journey of m miles is given by the formula F = 3 + 2.5m. A journey costs £15.50. Work out the distance travelled, m, by first rearranging the formula to make m the subject, then substituting F = 15.50.
(a)7.4
(b)6.2
(c)3.2
(d)5
3.A photo printing service has two adverts for its price. Advert A: cost in pounds = 3(2n + 4) for n photos. Advert B: cost in pounds = 6n + 12. A customer says the two adverts always charge the same amount. Is the customer correct?
(a)They always charge the same, since 3(2n + 4) = 6n + 12.
(b)It depends on the value of n, so it cannot be decided.
(c)Advert A is cheaper, since 3(2n + 4) = 6n + 4.
(d)Advert A is cheaper, since 3(2n + 4) = 2n + 7.
4.A quadratic graph y = ax² + bx + c has its turning point on the y-axis. Which statement about its roots must be true?
(a)The two roots must both be positive.
(b)The graph has no roots at all.
(c)The graph must touch the x-axis at exactly one point.
(d)If the graph has two real roots, they are equal and opposite in value, so they sum to zero.
5.A hiker's distance-time graph shows the following: he walks 5 km in the first 1 hour at a steady speed, rests for 1 hour, then walks a further 9 km in the next 2 hours, also at a steady speed. Work out his average speed for the whole journey, in km/h.
(a)3.5 km/h
(b)4.75 km/h
(c)4.67 km/h
(d)2.25 km/h
6.A cyclist's velocity increases from 3 m/s to 11 m/s over 5 seconds, at a constant rate. Work out the cyclist's acceleration, in m/s².
(a)0.625 m/s²
(b)1.6 m/s²
(c)8 m/s²
(d)2.2 m/s²
7.The mean of four numbers is 12.5. Three of the numbers are 8, 15 and 19. Form an equation using n for the fourth number, and solve it to find n.
(a)−4.5
(b)50
(c)29.5
(d)8
8.A school trip costs a £15 deposit plus £9 per student for the coach. The total cost for a class is £186. Work out how many students went on the trip.
(a)22.33
(b)20.67
(c)19
(d)11.8
9.On Monday, a runner covers 15 km in 2.5 hours. On Tuesday, she covers 12 km in 1.5 hours. Using the formula speed = distance ÷ time, work out on which day she ran faster, and by how much.
(a)Tuesday, by 2 km/h
(b)Tuesday, by 8 km/h
(c)Tuesday, by 3 km/h
(d)Monday, by 2 km/h
10.Six years ago Harry was three times as old as his brother Leo. Harry is now 24 years old. Work out Leo's age now.
(a)12
(b)8
(c)36
(d)6
11.A model rocket's height is given by h = −5t² + 20t, where h is in metres and t is in seconds. A student says the graph of h against t is n-shaped. Which statement gives the correct verdict on the SHAPE and the reason that settles it from the equation?
(a)Yes — the t² coefficient is negative, giving an n-shape.
(b)No — it is U-shaped, since height starts by increasing.
(c)No — the shape comes from the story, not the coefficient.
(d)Yes, but only because the rocket eventually lands.
12.The iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = √(2xₙ + 15) is used repeatedly, starting from x₀ = 1. Work out the value that xₙ approaches, correct to 2 decimal places.
(a)1.00
(b)5.00
(c)17.00
(d)4.99
13.The iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = xₙ³ − 2 is used repeatedly, starting from x₀ = 2. Which of these describes what happens to the sequence of values as n increases?
(a)It stays constant, since x₀ = 2 is a fixed point.
(b)It oscillates between two fixed values.
(c)It converges to a fixed value close to 2.
(d)It diverges, growing rapidly without limit.
14.A tap fills a tank at a varying rate. A graph shows the rate of flow, in litres per minute, against time, in minutes. What does the area under this graph represent?
(a)The rate at which the flow rate changes, in litres/min².
(b)The total volume of water, in litres, that has flowed in.
(c)The average rate of flow, in litres per minute.
(d)The total time taken to fill the tank, in minutes.
15.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.
(a)102 m
(b)93 m
(c)81 m
(d)72 m

Build your own mix at the worksheet builder.