Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.Solve 5x² − 15x = 0.

2.A sequence has nth term 3n + 4. Two terms are missing from the list of its first five terms: 7, 10, _, 16, _. Work out the missing 3rd and 5th terms added together.

3.A graph has equation y = −2x² + 5. Which statement about its shape is correct?

4.The graph of y = x² − 7x + 2 crosses the x-axis at two points. One root, read from the graph, is approximately x = 0.30. Using the fact that the sum of the two roots of x² − 7x + 2 = 0 is 7, estimate the other root, correct to 2 decimal places.

5.Isla says that the lines y = 2x + 1 and y = −2x + 3 are parallel. Write down the statement that gives the correct answer for the correct reason.

6.Two brothers have ages that add up to 30. The elder brother is 6 years older than the younger brother. Work out the age of the younger brother.

7.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.

8.A gardener charges a fixed fee of £15 plus £8 for each hour worked. The total charge, £T, for a job lasting h hours is given by T = 15 + 8h. Work out the charge for a job lasting 4 hours, and identify what kind of statement T = 15 + 8h is.

9.One solution of the equation x² − (k + 1)x + k = 0 is x = 3. Work out the value of k.

10.A pattern is made from tiles. Pattern 1 uses 4 tiles, pattern 2 uses 7 tiles, pattern 3 uses 10 tiles and pattern 4 uses 13 tiles, with each pattern using 3 more tiles than the one before. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the number of tiles used in pattern n.

11.Solve the inequality 4x + 1 > 2x + 9.

12.The area under a speed-time graph between t = 0 and t = 6 seconds is estimated using three strips of equal width, using the speeds, in m/s, at t = 0, 2, 4 and 6: 0, 5, 9 and 12. Using the trapezium rule with these three trapezia, estimate the distance travelled.

13.A gym charges a reduced price for the first month of membership and a standard price for every month after that. The total cost is £5 for 1 month, £12 for 2 months, £19 for 3 months and £26 for 4 months. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the total cost, in pounds, of n months of membership.

14.A geometric sequence has first term 3 and common ratio 2. Work out the 5th term of the sequence.

15.A quadratic graph has equation y = (x − 4)². A student says this graph crosses the x-axis at two different points. Explain why the student is wrong.