Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.Two expressions are 4(x + 3) and 4x + 3. A student checks whether they are equivalent by substituting x = 2. Which statement correctly interprets the result?

2.The equation x² = 5x − 3 is to be solved using iteration. Work out which of these iterative formulas comes from a correct rearrangement of the equation.

3.A circle has centre (0, 0) and equation x² + y² = 64. Write down the radius of the circle.

4.A rectangular sheep pen has perimeter P, length l and width w, connected by the formula P = 2l + 2w. A farmer has 60 m of fencing for the perimeter and sets the width at 8 m. Work out the length of the pen.

5.Solve 2x² − 32 = 0.

6.The table shows the rate at which water flows from a tank, in litres per minute, over a 6-minute period: 12 at t = 0 min, 12 at t = 2 min, 3 at t = 5 min, and 0 at t = 6 min. Between t = 0 and t = 2 the rate is constant. Between t = 2 and t = 5, and between t = 5 and t = 6, the rate decreases at a constant rate in each section. Estimate the total volume of water that has flowed out, using the areas of a rectangle and two trapeziums.

7.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.

8.Solve the inequality x² ≥ 16, giving your answer using set notation.

9.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.

10.The graph of y = f(x) crosses the x-axis at x = −3 and x = 7, and crosses the y-axis at (0, 21). A second graph crosses the x-axis at x = −7 and x = 3, and crosses the y-axis at the same point, (0, 21). The second graph is y = g(x). Which of these could be the equation of g(x)?

11.f(x) = 3x − 2. Find f⁻¹(x).

12.A hot air balloon is at a height of 20 m and rises at a steady rate. After 4 minutes it is at a height of 52 m. Work out the rate at which the balloon rises, in metres per minute.

13.A student attempts to prove that the product of two consecutive integers is always even: (i) Let the two consecutive integers be n and n + 1. (ii) Since n(n + 1) is even, one of n and n + 1 must be an even number. (iii) Therefore, n(n + 1) is even. At which statement does the proof first assume the very fact it is trying to prove?

14.A water tank empties according to y = −5x + 200, where y is the number of litres left after x minutes. Work out the coordinates of the point where this graph crosses the x-axis.

15.A rule turns each input x into an output y. The inputs are x = 1, 2, 3, 4 and the matching outputs are y = −5, −3, −1 and one missing value. Work out the missing value of y.