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.The point (4, 2) lies on the circle x² + y² = 20. Work out the equation of the tangent to the circle at (4, 2).
(a)y = −0.5x + 4
(b)y = −2x − 10
(c)y = 2x − 6
(d)y = −2x + 10
2.The formula for the area of a trapezium is A = (a + b)h / 2, where a and b are the parallel side lengths and h is the height. Make h the subject of the formula.
(a)h = 2A / a + b
(b)h = (a + b) / (2A)
(c)h = A / (a + b)
(d)h = 2A / (a + b)
3.Yusuf has £40 saved and adds £6 each week. His sister Aisha has £10 saved and adds £11 each week. After how many weeks will they have saved the same amount?
(a)1.76
(b)0
(c)10
(d)6
4.The iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = √(2xₙ + 15) is used repeatedly, starting from x₀ = 1. Work out the value that xₙ approaches, correct to 2 decimal places.
(a)1.00
(b)5.00
(c)17.00
(d)4.99
5.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.
(a)R
(b)Q
(c)P
(d)S
6.Solve (3x + 2)/5 = (x + 4)/3
(a)x = 3.5
(b)x = 4.5
(c)x = 10
(d)x = 1
7.Work out the value of 2(x + 2) when x = −5
(a)−3
(b)−1
(c)−6
(d)−8
8.A region R satisfies y ≤ x + 1, x + y ≤ 5 and y ≥ 0. Which of these correctly describes R in words?
(a)Below y = x + 1, below x + y = 5, below y = 0
(b)Below y = x + 1, above x + y = 5, above y = 0
(c)Above y = x + 1, below x + y = 5, above y = 0
(d)Below y = x + 1, below x + y = 5, above y = 0
9.A charity's fundraising total, T pounds, over d days follows T = (d − 3)(30 − d) for 3 ≤ d ≤ 30, where T = 0 marks the start and end of the campaign. Work out how many days the campaign runs for, from start to end.
(a)24 days
(b)30 days
(c)27 days
(d)33 days
10.A colony of bacteria doubles in number every hour. At 9am there are 5 bacteria in the colony. Work out how many bacteria there will be at 12 noon.
(a)40
(b)11
(c)20
(d)80
11.A student is asked whether 3(x − 4) = 3x − 4 is an identity. Which statement gives the correct verdict and reason?
(a)It is an identity, because both sides begin with the term 3x, so they must be equivalent.
(b)It is not even an ordinary equation with a solution: expanding the left-hand side gives 3x − 12, and 3x − 12 = 3x − 4 would require −12 = −4, which is never true.
(c)It is not an identity, because the student forgot to multiply the 4 by 3 on both sides of the equation.
(d)It is not an identity, because the student needs to substitute a specific value of x before comparing the two sides.
12.The point (3, 4) lies on the circle x² + y² = 25, which has centre (0, 0). Work out the gradient of the tangent to the circle at (3, 4).
(a)−4/3
(b)−3/4
(c)4/3
(d)3/4
13.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.
(a)3n − 2
(b)3n + 1
(c)3n + 4
(d)n + 3
14.Work out the equation of the straight line through the points (−3, 4) and (1, −8).
(a)y = −3x − 5
(b)y = 3x − 11
(c)y = −3x + 5
(d)y = −3x + 11
15.A quadratic graph has roots at x = −3 and x = 5, and it crosses the y-axis at (0, −15). Work out the equation of the curve in the form y = (x − a)(x − b).
(a)y = (x − 3)(x − 5)
(b)y = (x − 3)(x + 5)
(c)y = (x + 3)(x + 5)
(d)y = (x + 3)(x − 5)

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