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.Simplify 2/(x + 1) + 3/(x − 2), giving your answer as a single fraction.
(a)5/(2x − 1)
(b)(5x + 1)/(x² − x − 2)
(c)(5x − 1)/(x² + x − 2)
(d)(5x − 1)/(x² − x − 2)
2.A rule turns each input x into an output y. The inputs are x = −1, 0, 1, 2 and the matching outputs are y = 5, 3, 1, −1. Work out the rule.
(a)y = −2x + 3
(b)y = 2x + 3
(c)y = −2x − 3
(d)y = −x + 4
3.Two numbers have a sum of 45. The larger number is 9 more than the smaller number. Form an equation using n for the smaller number, and solve it to find the larger number.
(a)27
(b)22.5
(c)18
(d)36
4.A car's speed, in m/s, during a journey is: 0 at t = 0 s, 8 at t = 4 s, and 8 (constant) from t = 4 s to t = 10 s, increasing at a constant rate between t = 0 and t = 4. Estimate the total distance the car travels, using the areas of a triangle and a rectangle.
(a)48 m
(b)40 m
(c)64 m
(d)80 m
5.A sequence has the position-to-term rule n² + 1, where n is the position number. Work out how much bigger the 5th term is than the 4th term.
(a)9
(b)7
(c)1
(d)11
6.Solve x² − 100 = 0.
(a)x = 10 or x = −10
(b)x = 10
(c)x = 100 or x = −100
(d)x = 50
7.The equation x² − x − 6 = 0 has roots x = 3 and x = −2. It can be rearranged as xₙ₊₁ = xₙ² − 6. This formula is used with starting value x₀ = 2.9, close to the root x = 3. Work out what happens to the sequence of values as n increases.
(a)The sequence settles towards x = 3
(b)The sequence stays constant at x = 2.9
(c)The sequence diverges, moving away from x = 3
(d)The sequence settles towards x = −2
8.A closed cylinder has radius r cm and height (r + 5) cm. Its volume is 300 cm³, giving the equation πr²(r + 5) = 300, which can be solved using the iterative formula rₙ₊₁ = √(300 ÷ (π(rₙ + 5))). Taking r₀ = 3, work out r₃ correct to 2 decimal places.
(a)3.45
(b)3.38
(c)3.36
(d)4.82
9.The formula for converting a temperature from degrees Celsius, C, to degrees Fahrenheit, F, is F = 1.8C + 32. Work out F when C = 20, and identify what kind of mathematical statement F = 1.8C + 32 is.
(a)68, and it is an equation
(b)36, and it is a formula
(c)52, and it is a formula
(d)68, and it is a formula
10.Solve x² + 7x = 0.
(a)x = 0 or x = 7
(b)x = 0 or x = −14
(c)x = 0 or x = −7
(d)x = −7
11.The equation x² − 3x − 7 = 0 can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = √(3xₙ + 7). The starting value is x₀ = 4, so x₁ is the value after the formula has been used once. Work out x₃ correct to 3 decimal places.
(a)4.535
(b)4.481
(c)13.149
(d)4.521
12.Solve the inequality 5 − x ≤ 2.
(a)x ≤ −3
(b)x ≥ −3
(c)x ≥ 3
(d)x ≤ 3
13.Points A(−1, 2) and B(5, 8) are the endpoints of a line segment. Work out the equation of the perpendicular bisector of AB.
(a)x + y = 4
(b)x + y = 12
(c)x − y = −3
(d)x + y = 7
14.Solve 3x + 14 = 8x − 6
(a)x = 15
(b)x = 2.5
(c)x = 4
(d)x = −1.6
15.Solve x² − 5x + 6 = 0 by factorising.
(a)x = −2 or x = −3
(b)x = 1 or x = 6
(c)x = 2 or x = 3
(d)x = 5 or x = 6

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