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.A ribbon of length L metres is cut into 5 equal pieces, and then 3 metres is removed from one piece. Write down an expression, in metres, for the length of that piece after 3 metres is removed.
(a)5/L − 3
(b)(L − 3)/5
(c)L/5 − 3
(d)L − 3/5
2.Tom is asked to classify the statement 5(2x − 3) = 10x − 15. Which statement about it is correct?
(a)An equation, since it has an equals sign and unknown x.
(b)An identity, since both sides are equal for every x.
(c)A formula, since it relates two different quantities.
(d)An inequality, since the sides are equal sometimes.
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 phone plan costs a fixed £15 per month plus 8p per minute of calls. In one month, Jamal's bill was £23.80. Form an equation using m for the number of minutes, and solve it to find how many minutes Jamal used that month.
(a)485
(b)1.1
(c)297.5
(d)110
5.The point A(−6, 8) lies on the circle x² + y² = 100, whose centre is the origin O. The tangent to the circle at A crosses the y-axis at the point B. Work out the length of OB.
(a)12.5
(b)8
(c)10
(d)3.5
6.A van's value depreciates by 18% each year. After 2 years it is worth £5,379.20. Work out its value when it was new, correct to the nearest pound.
(a)£6,560
(b)£3,617
(c)£8,000
(d)£8,405
7.The equation x³ − 2x − 7 = 0 has exactly one solution. It can be found using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = ∛(2xₙ + 7), with starting value x₀ = 2, so that x₁ is the value after the formula has been used once. Work out the solution correct to 2 decimal places, iterating until two consecutive values round to the same 2 decimal places.
(a)2.25
(b)1.91
(c)2.26
(d)2.22
8.A geometric sequence has first term 3 and common ratio √3. Work out the position of the first term of the sequence that exceeds 30.
(a)5th term
(b)4th term
(c)7th term
(d)6th term
9.Expand and simplify (x + 1)(x + 2)(x + 3).
(a)x³ + 6x² + 11x + 5
(b)x³ + 6x² + 6x + 6
(c)x³ + 5x² + 11x + 6
(d)x³ + 6x² + 11x + 6
10.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.
11.(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
12.Factorise 6x² − 7x − 3.
(a)(x − 3)(6x + 1)
(b)(3x + 1)(2x − 3)
(c)(6x − 1)(x + 3)
(d)(3x − 1)(2x + 3)
13.The equation 7x = x² + 3 can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = (xₙ² + 3) ÷ 7. Taking x₀ = 0.4, x₁ = 0.4514 correct to 4 decimal places. Using the full unrounded value of x₁, work out x₂ correct to 3 decimal places.
(a)0.493
(b)0.458
(c)0.451
(d)0.632
14.Which of these pairs of lines are perpendicular to each other?
(a)y = 2x and y = 2x + 1
(b)y = 2x and y = −(1/2)x + 1
(c)y = 2x and y = −2x + 1
(d)y = 2x and y = (1/2)x + 1
15.A graph shows the total monthly cost of a mobile phone tariff against the number of minutes of calls. The line starts at £12 and stays level until 200 minutes, then rises by 5p for each further minute of calls. Use the graph to work out the total cost of a month in which 250 minutes of calls are made.
(a)£14.50
(b)£13.50
(c)£12.50
(d)£24.50

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