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.

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Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

Maths · GCSE Higher · Algebra · Non-calculator · 15 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.Simplify (5x² + 3x − 2) − (2x² − x + 5)
(a)3x² + 4x + 3
(b)3x² + 2x + 3
(c)7x² + 2x + 3
(d)3x² + 4x − 7
2.Line C passes through (0, 0) and (4, 2). Line D passes through (0, 0) and (2, 2). Write down which of the two lines is the steeper.
(a)There is not enough information
(b)They are equally steep
(c)Line D
(d)Line C
3.A table shows y = x² − 6x + 5 at these points (x, y): (0, 5), (1, 0), (2, −3), (3, −4), (4, −3), (5, 0), (6, 5). Using the symmetry shown, write down the x-coordinate of the turning point.
y = x² − 6x + 5
(a)x = 1
(b)x = 5
(c)x = 6
(d)x = 3
4.A ball is dropped and bounces. The height of each bounce after the first is 8 cm less than the bounce before it. The first bounce reaches 60 cm. Work out the height of the 5th bounce.
(a)40
(b)92
(c)20
(d)28
5.Which of these is a formula, rather than an expression, an equation, or an identity?
(a)lwh
(b)lwh = 60
(c)2(l + w) ≡ 2l + 2w
(d)V = lwh
6.The line y = 2x + 7 and the circle x² + y² = 4 are given. By finding the discriminant of the resulting quadratic, without solving it fully, work out how many points the line and the circle intersect at.
y = 2x + 7
(a)0 — the line does not intersect the circle
(b)It cannot be found without solving the quadratic.
(c)1 — the line is a tangent to the circle
(d)2 — the line crosses the circle at two points
7.The point (18, 24) lies on the circle x² + y² = 900, which has centre (0, 0). The tangent to the circle at (18, 24) crosses the y-axis at the point Q. Work out the y-coordinate of Q.
(a)900
(b)50
(c)37.5
(d)1.25
8.A square patio of side length n slabs is surrounded by a single border of square paving slabs of the same size. For a patio with side length n, the total number of slabs used for the patio and its border together is 9 when n = 1, 16 when n = 2, 25 when n = 3, and 36 when n = 4. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the total number of slabs.
(a)n² + 4n + 4
(b)n² + 4n
(c)2n² + 4n + 4
(d)n² + 4
9.Work out the coordinates of the point halfway between (−9, −2) and (−1, −2).
(a)(−10, −2)
(b)(−5, −2)
(c)(−4, −2)
(d)(5, −2)
10.For the graph of y = 1/x, where x cannot be zero, which of these statements is correct?
(a)The graph has only one branch, in quadrant 1
(b)The graph passes through the origin, (0, 0)
(c)The graph crosses the y-axis but never the x-axis
(d)The graph never crosses either axis
11.Two numbers have a sum of 24. Their difference is 6. Work out the two numbers.
(a)15 and 6
(b)15 and 21
(c)15 and 9
(d)18 and 6
12.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = x² + 8x − 3.
y = x² + 8x − 3
(a)x = −8, y = −67
(b)x = −4, y = 19
(c)x = 4, y = −19
(d)x = −4, y = −19
13.A student says that (x + 4)² is equivalent to x² + 16. For which value of x do the two expressions give the SAME result, making it look (misleadingly) like the student could be right?
(a)x = 4
(b)x = −4
(c)x = 0
(d)x = 8
14.The diagram shows the graph of the cost, in pounds, of a taxi journey plotted against the distance travelled, in miles, for journeys of up to 4 miles. The same fixed charge and the same cost per mile apply to longer journeys. Work out the cost of a 6-mile journey.
(a)£24
(b)£14
(c)£12
(d)£8
15.A water butt holds 200 litres and is being drained at a steady 8 litres per minute. Write down the function for the amount of water y, in litres, left after x minutes.
(a)y = 200x − 8
(b)y = −8x − 200
(c)y = 200 − 8x
(d)y = 8x + 200

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