Pearson Edexcel GCSE Mathematics (1MA1)
GCSE Maths
Answer sheet
Algebra
Separate mark scheme — do not issue with the student worksheet
Time guide: — · Questions: 32 · Total marks: 80
Written in Pearson Edexcel Higher-style. Show working. Marks are available for method.
Indicative marking points. Award marks for equivalent scientific or mathematical wording. Do not issue this sheet with the student worksheet.
1. Expand and simplify 3(x + 3) + 2(x − 1).
[2 marks]
- Expand then collect like terms
- Final answer: 5x + 7
2. Expand (x + 4)(x + 3).
[2 marks]
- FOIL
- Final answer: x² + 7x + 12
3. Factorise x² + 7x + 12.
[2 marks]
- Two numbers that multiply to c term and add to x term
- Final answer: (x + 4)(x + 3)
4. Factorise fully 6x² + 9x.
[2 marks]
- Highest common factor 3x
- Final answer: 3x(2x + 3)
[2 marks]
- Add, then divide
- Final answer: x = 4.6
6. Solve 4x + 7 = 6x − 3.
[3 marks]
- Collect x terms on one side
- Final answer: x = 5
7. Solve the inequality 2x + 1 < 12.
(b) [1 mark]
- Open circle at the critical value, arrow to the left
8. Solve the simultaneous equations: y = 2x + 1 and 3x + y = 12.
[3 marks]
- Substitute y into the second equation
- Final answer: x = 2.2, y = 5.4
9. Solve x² − 5x + 6 = 0.
[3 marks]
- Factorise (x − 2)(x − 3)
- Final answer: x = 2 or x = 3
10. Solve x² + 4x − 2 = 0. Give answers in surd form.
[3 marks]
- Quadratic formula / complete the square
- Final answer: x = −2 ± √6
11. Complete the square for x² + 6x + 5.
[3 marks]
- Half of 6 is 3
- Final answer: (x + 3)² − 4
12. The nth term of a sequence is 4n + 3. Find the first 3 terms and the 20th term.
[3 marks]
- Substitute n = 1, 2, 3, 20
- Final answer: 7, 11, 15; 20th = 83
13. Here is a sequence: 5, 8, 11, 14, … Find the nth term.
14. Rearrange v = u + at to make t the subject.
[2 marks]
- Subtract u, divide by a
- Final answer: t = (v − u)/a
15. Rearrange A = 2πr(r + h) to make h the subject.
[3 marks]
- Divide by 2πr then subtract r
- Final answer: h = A/(2πr) − r
[2 marks]
- Cube each factor; multiply indices
- Final answer: 27x⁶y³
[2 marks]
- Cube root of 8 is 2; divide index by 3
- Final answer: 2x²
18. f(x) = 4x − 1. Find f(4) and f⁻¹(x).
[3 marks]
- Swap x and y, rearrange
- Final answer: f(4) = 15; f⁻¹(x) = (x + 1)/4
[2 marks]
- 32 = 2⁵
- Final answer: x = 5
20. The line L has gradient 4 and passes through (0, 3). Write the equation of L.
[2 marks]
- y = mx + c
- Final answer: y = 4x + 3
21. Find the equation of the line through (2, 6) and (6, 14).
[3 marks]
- Gradient = 8/4 = 2, then substitute a point
- Final answer: y = 2x + 2
[2 marks]
- (2x − 3)(2x − 3)
- Final answer: 4x² − 12x + 9
23. Simplify (x² − 9)/(x − 3), x ≠ 3.
[2 marks]
- Difference of two squares
- Final answer: x + 3
24. Devon solves 3(x − 2) = 12 and writes x − 2 = 12, so x = 14.
(a) [1 mark]
- Did not divide 12 by 3 / expanded incorrectly
[3 marks]
- 2x − 1 = 7 or 2x − 1 = −7
- Final answer: x = 4 or x = −3
26. The quadratic graph y = x² − 4x + 3 crosses the x-axis at A and B. Find the coordinates of A and B.
[3 marks]
- Factorise (x − 1)(x − 3)
- Final answer: (1, 0) and (3, 0)
27. Sketch y = (x + 2)(x − 4), showing intercepts.
[4 marks]
- x-intercepts −2 and 4
- y-intercept −8
- U-shaped parabola
28. Work out the 5th triangular number and show that the nth triangular number is n(n + 1)/2 for n = 5.
[2 marks]
- 1+2+3+4+5 = 15 and 5×6/2 = 15
- Final answer: 15
[2 marks]
- x² = 16
- Final answer: x = 4 or x = −4
30. If p is directly proportional to q and p = 6 when q = 2, find p when q = 8.
[3 marks]
- p = kq, k = A/2, p = 4A
- Final answer: 24
31. Simplify 2(x + 5) − (x − 5).
[2 marks]
- Watch the minus sign in front of the second bracket
- Final answer: x + 15
32. On a Edexcel paper, a 3-mark algebra question usually needs a method mark. Write two things an examiner looks for when you solve a quadratic.
[2 marks]
- Correct factorisation or formula substitution
- Both solutions, including the negative root if it exists