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 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
2.Solve 2x² − 32 = 0.
(a)x = 8
(b)x = 4
(c)x = 16
(d)x = 4 or x = −4
3.A coach company charges a booking fee plus a price for each passenger. A booking for 1 passenger costs £9, for 2 passengers costs £15, for 3 passengers costs £21, and for 4 passengers costs £27. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the cost in pounds of a booking for n passengers.
(a)9n + 6
(b)6n
(c)6n + 9
(d)6n + 3
4.A plumber charges a call-out fee of £30 plus £25 per hour worked. Work out the total charge for a job that takes 3 hours.
(a)£165
(b)£105
(c)£75
(d)£90
5.The graph of y = f(x) has a minimum turning point at (3, 2). Write down the coordinates of the minimum turning point of the graph of y = f(x) + 5.
(a)(3, 7)
(b)(−2, 2)
(c)(8, 2)
(d)(3, −3)
6.Which expression means 'triple c, then add double d'?
(a)6cd
(b)2c + 3d
(c)3c + 2d
(d)5(c + d)
7.Subtract, giving your answer as a single fraction in its simplest form: 4/(x − 1) − 2/(x + 3)
(a)(2x + 11)/((x − 1)(x + 3))
(b)(2x + 14)/((x − 1)(x + 3))
(c)2/((x − 1)(x + 3))
(d)(2x − 10)/((x − 1)(x + 3))
8.The solution set of a quadratic inequality is {x : x ≤ −3} ∪ {x : x ≥ 5}. Which of these inequalities has this solution set?
(a)x² − 8x + 15 ≥ 0
(b)x² + 2x − 15 ≥ 0
(c)x² − 2x − 15 ≥ 0
(d)x² − 2x − 15 ≤ 0
9.The graph of P = 480 ÷ V shows how the pressure, P pascals, of a gas depends on its volume, V cm³, at constant temperature. Use the relationship to work out the volume when the pressure is 32 pascals, and then work out by how much the volume increases when the pressure drops to 24 pascals.
(a)8 cm³
(b)5 cm³
(c)15 cm³
(d)20 cm³
10.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.
11.A rectangular sheet of metal measures 20 cm by 12 cm. A square of side x cm is cut from each corner and the sides are folded up to make an open box of volume 200 cm³. This gives x³ − 16x² + 60x − 50 = 0, which can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = (16xₙ² − xₙ³ + 50)/60. The starting value is x₀ = 1, so x₁ is the value after the formula has been used once. Work out x₃, and use it to find the longer side of the base of the box correct to 1 decimal place.
(a)1.1 cm
(b)9.7 cm
(c)17.7 cm
(d)18.9 cm
12.The graph of y = x² − 4x is translated by the vector (3, 0). Work out the equation of the image, giving your answer in the form y = x² + bx + c.
y = x² − 4xy = x²
(a)y = x² − 7x + 21
(b)y = x² + 2x − 3
(c)y = x² − 4x + 3
(d)y = x² − 10x + 21
13.A Fibonacci-type sequence is defined by aₙ = aₙ₋₁ + aₙ₋₂ for n ≥ 3. Given that a₁ = 5 and a₃ = 17, work out a₂.
(a)22
(b)11
(c)−12
(d)12
14.A rectangular photo has length (x + 3) cm and width x cm. Its area is 40 cm². Work out the value of x.
(a)x = −8
(b)x = 5
(c)x = 5 or x = −8
(d)x = 4
15.Solve the simultaneous equations x + y = 1 and 2x + y = 5.
(a)x = 4, y = −3
(b)x = −2, y = 3
(c)x = 6, y = −5
(d)x = 4, y = 5

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