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.Matchsticks are laid out as a row of squares, with each new square sharing a side with the square before it. The first square uses 4 matchsticks and every extra square uses 3 more. Work out how many matchsticks a row of 4 squares uses.
(a)10
(b)16
(c)12
(d)13
2.The first four terms of a sequence are 2, 2√3, 6, 6√3, ... Work out the next term.
(a)18
(b)12
(c)18√3
(d)12√3
3.Line P has equation y = −2x + 5 and line Q has equation 2y = x + 6. Are lines P and Q perpendicular to each other?
y = -2x + 5y = x + 6
(a)Yes — the gradients multiply to −2 × 1/2 = −1.
(b)No — the product is −1, but perpendicular needs 1.
(c)No — Q's gradient is 2, and −2 × 2 = −4, not −1.
(d)Yes — both equations have a negative x-term.
4.Solve the simultaneous equations 3x + 2y = 16 and x + y = 7. Work out the value of y.
(a)2
(b)5
(c)9
(d)−5
5.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = x² − 10x + 30.
y = x² − 10x + 30
(a)x = 10, y = −70
(b)x = 5, y = −5
(c)x = 5, y = 5
(d)x = −5, y = 5
6.Make x the subject of the formula y = (x − 4)/5.
(a)x = 5(y + 4)
(b)x = 5y − 4
(c)x = y/5 + 4
(d)x = 5y + 4
7.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
8.f(x) = x³ − 3x − 5. Given that f(2.2) = −0.952 and f(2.3) = 0.267, work out what this shows about the equation x³ − 3x − 5 = 0.
y = x
(a)It has a solution between x = −2.2 and x = −2.3
(b)It has exactly two solutions in this interval
(c)It has no solution between x = 2.2 and x = 2.3
(d)It has a solution between x = 2.2 and x = 2.3
9.The first four terms of a sequence are 4, 9, 14, 19. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the nth term.
(a)n + 5
(b)5n + 4
(c)5n
(d)5n − 1
10.Solve the inequality 9 − 2x ≥ 1.
(a)x ≤ 5
(b)x ≥ 4
(c)x ≤ 4
(d)x ≤ −4
11.Work out the smallest positive value of x, in degrees, for which y = tan x is undefined.
y = tan(x)
(a)270°
(b)0°
(c)90°
(d)45°
12.The graph of y = 2x² + 6x − 1 is translated by the vector (−2, 0). Work out the equation of the image, giving your answer in the form y = 2x² + bx + c.
y = 2x² + 6x − 1y = 2x²
(a)y = 2x² + 10x + 15
(b)y = 2x² + 14x + 19
(c)y = 2x² − 2x − 5
(d)y = 2x² + 14x + 20
13.By completing the square, find the turning point of the curve y = 3x² + 12x + 7.
y = 3x² + 12x + 7
(a)x = −2, y = 5
(b)x = −4, y = −41
(c)x = 2, y = −5
(d)x = −2, y = −5
14.The graph of y = sin x is transformed onto the graph of y = sin x + 1. Which statement correctly describes the transformation and the new range of the graph?
y = sin(x)
(a)Reflect in the x-axis; range unchanged, −1 ≤ y ≤ 1
(b)Translate +1 in x; range unchanged, −1 ≤ y ≤ 1
(c)Translate +1 in y; new range 0 ≤ y ≤ 2
(d)Translate +1 in y; new range −2 ≤ y ≤ 0
15.A rule multiplies the input by a fixed number and then adds a fixed number. An input of 1 gives an output of 5, and an input of 3 gives an output of 11. Work out the rule, writing the input as x and the output as y.
(a)y = 3x − 2
(b)y = x + 4
(c)y = 3x + 2
(d)y = 2x + 3

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