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 · 15 questions

MathsUKwww.geekhero.co.uk

1.Harry is 14 years old and Mia is 8 years old. Will Harry ever be exactly twice as old as Mia? Give a reason for your answer.
(a)No — it has never happened and never will
(b)Yes — when Harry is 20
(c)No — that moment has already passed
(d)Yes — when Harry is 16
2.y = 5 − 2x. Work out the value of x when y = 11.
(a)8
(b)3
(c)6
(d)−3
3.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
4.The area of a triangle is given by the formula A = bh/2, where b is the base and h is the height. Make h the subject of the formula.
(a)h = b/(2A)
(b)h = 2A/b
(c)h = A/(2b)
(d)h = 2Ab
5.Explain why the equation 4x + 3 = 4x + 10 has no solution for x.
(a)Subtracting 4x gives 3 = 10, which is never true.
(b)x would have to be negative, but x must be positive.
(c)It's true for every x, so there are infinite solutions.
(d)x = 7, since 10 − 3 = 7.
6.A graph has equation y = −2x² + 5. Which statement about its shape is correct?
y = -2x² + 5
(a)It is U-shaped, since x² is always positive.
(b)It is a straight line, because of the constant term +5.
(c)It repeatedly rises and falls, like a wave shape.
(d)It is n-shaped, since the x² coefficient is negative.
7.The point (−4, 7) is moved 4 units to the right and 9 units down. Write down the coordinates of the point it reaches.
(a)(0, 16)
(b)(0, −2)
(c)(−8, −2)
(d)(5, 3)
8.A water tank empties according to y = −5x + 200, where y is the number of litres left after x minutes. Work out the coordinates of the point where this graph crosses the x-axis.
y = -5x + 200
(a)(40, 0)
(b)(0, 40)
(c)(0, 200)
(d)(200, 0)
9.(2x + 3)(x + a) ≡ 2x² + 11x + 12 is an identity. Work out the value of a.
(a)a = 8
(b)a = 12
(c)a = −4
(d)a = 4
10.The equation x² + 2x − 5 = 0 can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = 5/(xₙ + 2). The starting value is x₀ = 1, so x₁ is the value after the formula has been used once. Work out x₂ correct to 2 decimal places.
(a)1.36
(b)1.49
(c)1.37
(d)1.67
11.Solve x² − 2x − 24 = 0.
(a)x = 6 or x = −4
(b)x = −6 or x = 4
(c)x = −8 or x = 3
(d)x = −6 or x = −4
12.The formula connecting speed, distance and time is v = s ÷ t. Work out v, in km/h, when s = 180 and t = 4.
(a)720
(b)184
(c)176
(d)45
13.Which of these is a factor of 15x + 20?
(a)5
(b)3
(c)4
(d)10
14.Write y = x² + 12x + 40 in the form (x + a)² + b, and hence write down the minimum value of y.
y = x² + 12x + 40
(a)−6
(b)36
(c)4
(d)40
15.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

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