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.Solve the inequality x² + 6x + 9 > 0.
(a)x < −3 only
(b)every value of x, with no exceptions
(c)every value of x except x = −3
(d)x > −3 only
2.The equation x³ − 3x − 4 = 0 has a root near x = 2. Four students each try a different iterative formula, all starting from x₀ = 2: xₙ₊₁ = ∛(3xₙ + 4); xₙ₊₁ = (xₙ³ − 4) ÷ 3; xₙ₊₁ = 4 ÷ (xₙ² − 3); xₙ₊₁ = xₙ³ − 2xₙ − 4. Only one of these formulas keeps producing values that settle near the root when it is repeated. Work out x₁, correct to 3 decimal places, for the formula that does this.
(a)2.154
(b)1.333
(c)0.000
(d)4.000
3.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.
(a)It touches the x-axis once, only at x = 4.
(b)It never touches the x-axis at all.
(c)It crosses twice, at x = 4 and x = −4.
(d)It crosses twice, at x = 2 and x = −2.
4.The height, h metres, of a ball t seconds after a stopwatch is started follows h = (t − 1)(5 − t) for 1 ≤ t ≤ 5, where h = 0 means the ball is at ground level. Work out the two times at which the ball is at ground level.
(a)t = 1 second and t = 4 seconds
(b)t = 1 second and t = −5 seconds
(c)t = 1 second and t = 5 seconds
(d)t = −1 second and t = 5 seconds
5.A rectangular lawn is 4 m longer than it is wide. Its area is 96 m². Work out the length of the lawn.
(a)8 m
(b)24 m
(c)16 m
(d)12 m
6.Work out the gradient of the straight line with equation 2x + y = 8.
(a)−1/2
(b)8
(c)2
(d)−2
7.A speed-time graph shows a constant speed of 15 m/s for 20 seconds. Work out the distance travelled, using the area under the graph.
(a)7.5 m
(b)1.33 m
(c)35 m
(d)300 m
8.The curve y = −x² + 6x − 5 has a maximum point. Use completing the square to find its coordinates.
y = −x² + 6x − 5
(a)x = 3, y = −4
(b)x = 3, y = 4
(c)x = 6, y = 31
(d)x = −3, y = 4
9.Solve the simultaneous equations 5x − 2y = 16 and 3x + 2y = 16. Work out the value of x.
(a)8
(b)4
(c)2
(d)0
10.A coastguard radar at the origin covers a circular region modelled by x² + y² = 400, where each unit represents 1 kilometre. A boat travels along the straight line that touches the boundary of the region at the point (12, 16). Work out the equation of the line the boat travels along.
(a)y = −3x/4 − 25
(b)y = −3x/4 + 25
(c)y = −4x/3 + 32
(d)y = 3x/4 + 7
11.A rule turns each input into an output. An input of 0 gives an output of −1, an input of 1 gives an output of 1, and an input of 2 gives an output of 3. Work out the rule, writing the input as x and the output as y.
(a)y = x − 1
(b)y = 2x − 1
(c)y = 3x − 1
(d)y = 2x + 1
12.A cyclist's velocity increases from 3 m/s to 11 m/s over 5 seconds, at a constant rate. Work out the cyclist's acceleration, in m/s².
(a)0.625 m/s²
(b)1.6 m/s²
(c)8 m/s²
(d)2.2 m/s²
13.A regular hexagon has sides of length (x + 2) cm. Write down an expression, in terms of x, for the perimeter of the hexagon.
(a)6x + 12
(b)6x + 2
(c)x + 12
(d)8x
14.A walker's distance-time graph is described as follows: she walks 3 km in the first 15 minutes at a steady speed, rests for 10 minutes, then walks a further 3 km in the next 20 minutes, also at a steady speed. Work out her speed, in km/h, during the first 15 minutes.
(a)12 km/h
(b)9 km/h
(c)8 km/h
(d)0.2 km/h
15.A curve has equation y = x³ − 4x. Work out the coordinates of the point where the curve crosses the y-axis.
y = x
(a)(0, 4)
(b)(4, 0)
(c)(0, 0)
(d)(0, −4)

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