Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.Factorise fully 12x² + 18x.

2.Work out the value of m² + 3m when m = −2

3.Which of these equations gives a graph with two separate curved branches — one where x and y are both positive, and one where x and y are both negative?

4.Two numbers have a sum of 50. The larger number is twice the smaller number. Work out the smaller number.

5.Find the common ratio of the geometric sequence 5, 5√2, 10, 10√2, ... Give your answer in surd form.

6.A car's speed, in m/s, during a journey is: 0 at t = 0 s, 8 at t = 4 s, and 8 (constant) from t = 4 s to t = 10 s, increasing at a constant rate between t = 0 and t = 4. Estimate the total distance the car travels, using the areas of a triangle and a rectangle.

7.A car passes the 15 km marker on a road and passes the 195 km marker 3 hours later. Work out the gradient of the distance-time graph, that is the rate of change of distance with time.

8.A plumber charges a call-out fee plus an hourly rate. The total cost, y in pounds, of a job lasting x hours is given by y = 45x + 60. Work out the total cost of a job that lasts 3 hours.

9.A quadratic graph has roots at x = −3 and x = 5, and it crosses the y-axis at (0, −15). Work out the equation of the curve in the form y = (x − a)(x − b).

10.A straight line has gradient −3 and passes through the point (0, 1). Work out the value of y when x = 2.

11.The graph of y = f(x) has a minimum turning point at (4, −5). The graph of y = f(x) + a has a minimum turning point whose minimum VALUE is 2. Work out the value of a, and state the coordinates of the minimum turning point of y = f(x) + a.

12.A gym charges a joining fee plus a monthly fee. Anna paid £100 in total after 3 months of membership. Ben paid £160 in total after 6 months of membership (same joining fee and monthly fee as Anna). Work out the monthly fee.

13.On a map, where each grid unit represents 1 km, Ravi's house is at (−3, 4) and the library is at (6, 4). Work out the distance between Ravi's house and the library.

14.A car's speed increases steadily while it accelerates. Its speed v m/s after t seconds is given by v = u + at, where u is the starting speed in m/s and a is the acceleration in m/s². A car starts at u = 4 m/s and accelerates at a = 2 m/s² until it reaches v = 20 m/s. Work out t, the time taken in seconds.

15.A geometric sequence has first term 3 and common ratio √2. Work out the 6th term of the sequence, giving your answer in the form a√2.