Algebra worksheet — GCSE Higher

1.A circle has centre (0, 0) and equation x² + y² = 3721. The point (11, 60) lies on the circle. One of these is the gradient of the tangent to the circle at (11, 60). Work out which one.

2.A speed-time graph for a car shows the speed increasing steadily from 5 m/s to 17 m/s over 6 seconds. Work out the acceleration of the car, in m/s².

3.A market stall's cost of hiring n tables is modelled by two formulas: Formula A: C = 3(2n + 5); Formula B: C = 6n + 15, where C is in pounds. A stallholder says the two formulas always give the same cost. Work out the cost given by each formula when n = 4, and use your results to decide whether the stallholder is correct.

4.Kai writes the expression 8 − 3x + 5x² and says it has three terms. Ryan says it only has two terms because a number on its own is not a term. Work out the correct number of terms in the expression.

5.A distance-time graph is a straight line from (0, 0) to (4, 100), where time is in hours and distance is in kilometres. Work out the gradient of the line.

6.Solve (2x + 1)/3 = 5

7.A straight line passes through the points (−1, 2) and (3, 14). Work out the equation of the line.

8.Write y = x² + 12x + 40 in the form (x + a)² + b, and hence write down the minimum value of y.

9.A tram sets off from a stop. Its velocity-time graph rises in a straight line from 0 m/s to 12 m/s over the first 8 seconds, then stays constant at 12 m/s for a further 10 seconds. Work out the total distance the tram travels in these 18 seconds, using the area under the graph.

10.A water tank is a cuboid with a square base of side x metres and height (x + 1) metres. Its volume is 10 m³. This gives x³ + x² − 10 = 0, which can be solved using the iterative formula xₙ₊₁ = ∛(10 − xₙ²). Taking x₀ = 2, so that x₁ is the value found after the formula has been used once, work out x₃ correct to 3 decimal places.

11.A gym charges a reduced price for the first month of membership and a standard price for every month after that. The total cost is £5 for 1 month, £12 for 2 months, £19 for 3 months and £26 for 4 months. Work out an expression, in terms of n, for the total cost, in pounds, of n months of membership.

12.A rule multiplies the input by a fixed number and then adds a fixed number. An input of 1 gives an output of 5, and an input of 3 gives an output of 11. Work out the rule, writing the input as x and the output as y.

13.How many turning points does the graph of y = x² − 7x + 10 have?

14.The graph of y = f(x) passes through the point (2, 7). The graph of y = f(x) + a passes through the point (2, 3). Work out the value of a.

15.A rectangle is x cm wide and twice as long as it is wide, so its area A cm² is given by A = 2x². Work out A when x = 3.