GCSE Foundation Mathematics examination questions

1.

(a)

Write these five fractions in order of size.

Start with the smallest fraction.

3
4

1
2

3
8

2
3

1
6

................................................................
(2)

(b)

Write these numbers in order of size.

Start with the smallest number.
65%

3
4

0.72

2
3

3
5

................................................................
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

2.

There are three beads in a bag.

One bead is red, one bead is white and one bead is yellow.
Sarah takes, at random, a bead from the bag.
She looks at its colour and then puts the bead back in the bag.

R
Y

(a)

On the probability line,

(i)

mark with the letter R the probability that Sarah takes a red bead.

(ii)

mark with the letter B the probability that Sarah takes a black bead.

1
2

1
(2)

There are also three beads in a box.

One bead is green, one bead is pink and one bead is blue.

P
B

Without looking, Saskia takes, at random, one bead from the bag and one bead from the box.
One possible outcome for the two beads she takes is (red, green).
(b)

List all the possible outcomes.

One has already been done for you.
(red, green) .................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
.....................................................................................................................................
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

3.

Williams salary is 24 000

His salary increases by 4%.
Work out Williams new salary.

............................
(Total 3 marks)

4.

Simplify the ratio

12 : 16

(Total 1 mark)

5.

(a)

Write 0.37 as a fraction.

............................
(1)

(b)

Write down all the factors of 21

.....................................................................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

6.

(a)

Write 11% as a fraction.

..
(1)

(b)

Write 0.25 as a percentage.

..%
(1)

(c)

Write 8% as a decimal.
..
(1)

(d)

Work out 40% of 200.

..
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

7.

Find the value of the square root of 1.5625

.
(Total 1 mark)

8.

Chloe made a list of her homework marks.

4
(a)

Write down the mode of her homework marks.

.
(1)

(b)

Work out her mean homework mark.

.
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

1 3 2 3
6 4 3 5 9.
(i)

(a)

Write down the name of a metric unit which is used to measure

the distance from London to Brighton,

(ii)

the weight of a bar of soap.

(2)

(b)

(i)

Change 240 millimetres to centimetres.

cm
(ii)

Change 3.8 litres to millilitres.

ml
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

10.

This is a grid of centimetre squares.

(a)

Write down the perimeter of the shaded shape.

(2)

(b)

On the grid, enlarge the shaded shape by a scale factor of 2, centre A.

(3)
(Total 5 marks)

11.

(a)

Complete the table of values for y = 3x + 1

1
(2)

(b)

On the grid, draw the graph of y = 3x + 1

y
10

6
(2)

(c)

Use your graph to find

(i)

the value of y when x = 0.8

y = .................................

(ii)

the value of x when y = 8.2

x = .................................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

12.

In a survey, some students were asked what their favourite leisure activity was.
Their answers were used to draw this pie chart.

Music
Sport
140
100
30
Television
Reading

(a)

Write down the fraction of the students who answered Television.

Write your answer in its simplest form.

(2)

18 students answered Music.

(b)

Work out the number of students who took part in the survey.

(2)
(Total 4 marks)

13.

Bhavana asked some people which region their favourite football team came from.
The table shows her results.

Region

Frequency

Midlands

22

London

36

Southern England

Northern England

24

Complete the accurate pie chart to show these results.

Use the circle given below.

Midlands

(Total 3 marks)

14.

The length of a coach is 15 metres.

Jonathan makes a model of the coach.
He uses a scale of 1:24
Work out the length, in centimetres, of the model coach.

.cm
(Total 2 marks)

15.

(a)

Solve x + 2x = 12

x = .............................
(1)

(b)

Solve 2y 1 = 13

y = .............................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

10

16.

Simplify
(a)

c+c+c

(1)

(b)

e+f+e+f+e

(1)

(c)

2a + 3a

(1)

(d)

2xy + 3xy xy

(1)

(e)

3a + 5b a + 2b + 8
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

17.

Imran thinks of a number.

He multiplies the number by 3.
He then adds 19.
His answer is 61.
What number did Imran first think of?

(Total 2 marks)

18.

Use your calculator to work out

(i)

2.43

(ii)

39.69

(Total 2 marks)

11

19.

Sam recorded the colours of cars parked at his school yesterday.

The table shows his results.

Colour

Frequency

Blue

20

Red

22

Green

White

12

Complete an accurate pie chart to show this information.

Use the circle given below.

(Total 4 marks)

12

20.

Here are some patterns made up of dots.

Pattern number 1
(a)

Pattern number 2

Pattern number 3

In the space below, draw Pattern number 4.

(1)

(b)

Complete the table.

Pattern number

Number of dots

10

14

18

5
(1)

(c)

How many dots are used in Pattern number 10?

..........................
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

13

21.

Change 28 miles to kilometres.

km
(Total 2 marks)

22.

Use your calculator to work out

(2.3 + 1.8)2 1.07
Write down all the figures on your calculator display.

.....................................
(Total 2 marks)

14

23.

Audrey sells packets of sweets.

There are three sizes of packets.

Small

Medium

Large

There are n sweets in the small packet.

There are twice as many sweets in the medium packet as there are in the small packet.
(a)

Write down an expression, in terms of n, for the number of sweets in the medium packet.

.....................................
(1)

There are 15 more sweets in the large packet than in the medium packet.
(b)

Write down an expression, in terms of n, for the number of sweets in the large packet.

....................................
(1)

A small packet of sweets costs 20p.

Sebastian buys q small packets of sweets.
(c)

Write down an expression, in terms of q, for the cost in pence of the sweets.

.......................... pence
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

15

24.

(a)

Write down the metric unit you would use to measure

(i)

the weight of a man,

..

(ii)

the length of a classroom.

..
(2)

(b)

(i)

Change 300 millimetres to centimetres.

.. cm
(ii)

Change 4 litres to millilitres.

.. ml
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

25.

Here is a fair 4-sided spinner.

4
2

16

The spinner has four sections numbered 2, 4, 6 and 8.

The spinner is to be spun. It will land on one of the sections.
On the probability scale below mark, with a letter, the probability that the spinner will land
(i)

on 2 (use the letter A),

(ii)

on an odd number (use the letter B),

(iii)

on a number greater than 3 (use the letter C).

1
2

(Total 3 marks)

26.

Ann buys stamps at 29p each.

She pays with a 5 note.
(a)

Work out the greatest number of 29p stamps Ann can buy.

..
(2)

(b)

Work out the change she should get.

.. p
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

17

27.

Bill recorded the times, in minutes, taken to complete his last 40 homeworks.
This table shows information about the times.

(a)

Time (t minutes)

Frequency

20 t < 25

25 t < 30

30 t < 35

35 t < 40

40 t < 45

15

Find the class interval in which the median lies.

.....................................
(1)

(b)

Calculate an estimate of the mean time it took Bill to complete each homework.

.....................................minutes
(4)
(Total 5 marks)

28.

Fred did a survey on the areas of pictures in a newspaper.

The table gives information about the areas.
Area (A cm2)

Frequency

0 < A 10

38

10 < A 25

36

25 < A 40

30

40 < A 60

46

18

Work out an estimate for the mean area of a picture.

.................................cm2
(Total 4 marks)

29.

Use your calculator to work out the value of

(a)

6.27 4.52
4.81 + 9.63

Write down all the figures on your calculator display.

..........................
(2)

19

(b)

Write your answer to part (a) to an appropriate degree of accuracy.

..........................
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

30.

Work out the value of

5.4 6.32
0.3

(Total 2 marks)

31.

Use your calculator to work out

6.32 2.8
8 .7 + 9 .2

Write down all the figures on your calculator display.

............................................................
(Total 2 marks)

20

32.

Michael buys 3 files

The total cost of these 3 files is 5.40
Work out the total cost of 7 of these files.

.
(Total 3 marks)

33.

Bob lays 200 bricks in 1 hour.

He always works at the same speed.
Work out how long it will take Bob to lay 960 bricks.
Give your answer in hours and minutes.

hours.minutes
(Total 3 marks)

21

34.

The equation
x3 + 2x = 65

has a solution between 3 and 4

Use a trial and improvement method to find this solution.
Give your solution to 1 decimal place
You must show ALL your working.

x =..................................
(Total 4 marks)

35.

1
3

2
5

5
8

6
10

7
12

9
15

Maria correctly converted each of these fractions to decimals.

Put a ring around each fraction which gave a recurring decimal.
(Total 2 marks)

22

36.

Write down the reciprocal of 4

..............................
(Total 1 mark)

37.

A doctor has 12 000 patients.

4560 of these patients are male.
(a)

What percentage of these patients are female?

................................. %
(3)

23

Here is the age, in years, of each of the first twenty patients the doctor saw yesterday.

(b)

20

13

19

27

32

39 26

39

45

56

47

59

52

28

21

10 36

27

In the space below, draw a stem and leaf diagram to show these ages.

(3)
(Total 6 marks)

38.

A can of drink costs 32p.

The cost of the can of drink is increased to 38p.
Jenny calculates that this is a percentage increase of 19%.
Is Jennys percentage correct?
You must show how you reached your decision.

(Total 3 marks)

24

39.

Mrs. Jones shared 375 between her two children in the ratio 1 : 6
She gave the bigger share to Matthew.
Work out how much money she gave to Matthew.

(Total 2 marks)

40.

Amy, Beth and Colin share 36 sweets in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4

Work out the number of sweets that each of them receives.
Amy.sweets
Beth.sweets
Colin..sweets
(Total 3 marks)

41.

A tower has a height of 124 m, correct to the nearest metre.

(i)

Write down the least possible height of the tower.

.....................................m

(ii)

Write down the greatest possible height of the tower.

.....................................m
(Total 2 marks)

25

42.

The radius of a circle is 3.60 m.

Work out the area of the circle.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

3.60 m

Diagram NOT accurately drawn

...
(Total 3 marks)

43.

A 10 pence coin is made from copper and nickel.

The ratio of the weight of copper to the weight of nickel is 18:6
(a)

Write the ratio 18:6 in its simplest form

.
(1)

26

The diameter of the 10 pence coin is 2.45 cm.

(b)

Work out the circumference of the coin.

Give your answer correct to 1 decimal place.

cm
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

27

44.

This is a list of ingredients for making a pear & almond crumble for 4 people.
Ingredients for 4 people.
80 g plain flour
60 g ground almonds
90 g soft brown sugar
60 g butter
4 ripe pears
Work out the amount of each ingredient needed to make a pear & almond crumble for 10 people.

..................... g plain flour

..................... g ground almonds
..................... g soft brown sugar
..................... g butter
..................... ripe pears
(Total 3 marks)

45.

Jack and Jill share 18 in the ratio 2:3

Work out how much each person gets.

Jack ..
Jill ....
(Total 2 marks)

28

46.
3.80

200 g
Large

3.50
175 g
Regular

A Large tub of popcorn costs 3.80 and holds 200 g.

A Regular tub of popcorn costs 3.50 and holds 175 g.
Rob says that the 200 g Large tub is the better value for money.
Linda says that the 175 g Regular tub is the better value for money.
Who is correct?

Explain the reasons for your answer. You must show all your working.

(Total 2 marks)

29

47.

(a)

Express the following numbers as products of their prime factors.

(i)

60,

.............................
(ii)

96.

.............................
(4)

(b)

Find the Highest Common Factor of 60 and 96.

.............................
(1)

(c)

Work out the Lowest Common Multiple of 60 and 96.

............................
(2)
(Total 7 marks)

30

48.

(a)

Express the following numbers as products of their prime factors.

(i)

56

.
(ii)

84

.
(4)

(b)

Find the Highest Common Factor of 56 and 84.

(1)
(Total 5 marks)

49.

Eggs are sold in boxes.

A small box holds 6 eggs.
A large box holds 12 eggs.
Hina buys x small boxes of eggs.
Hina also buys 4 less of the large boxes of eggs than the small boxes.
(a)

Find, in terms of x, the total number of eggs in the large boxes that Hina buys.

..........................
(1)

(b)

Find, in terms of x, the total number of eggs that Hina buys.

Give your answer in its simplest form.

..........................
(2)
(Total 3 marks)

31

50.

Sophie says For any whole number, n, the value of 6n 1 is always a prime number.
Sophie is wrong. Give an example to show that Sophie is wrong.

(Total 2 marks)

51.

(a)

Expand and simplify

3(2x 1) 2(2x 3)

(2)

(b)

Factorise

y2 + y

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

52.

(a)

Simplify
(i)

x4 x5
.

(ii)

p8
p3

.
(2)

32

(b)

Expand

3(2g 1)
.
(1)
(Total 3 marks)

53.

Alex has a mobile phone.

Each month he pays
13.4p for each minute he uses his mobile phone
and
a fixed charge of 18.75
In January Alex uses his mobile phone for 405 minutes.
Work out the total amount Alex pays.

...............................
(Total 3 marks)

54.

P = 2x2 + 3
Find the value of P when x = 5

P = .
(Total 2 marks)

55.

Solve

5(2y + 3) = 20

y = .................................
(Total 3 marks)

33

56.

The width of a rectangle is x centimetres.

The length of the rectangle is (x + 4) centimetres.

(a)

Find an expression, in terms of x, for the perimeter of the rectangle.

Give your expression in its simplest form.

.
(2)

The perimeter of the rectangle is 54 centimetres.

(b)

Work out the length of the rectangle.

cm
(3)
(Total 5 marks)

57.

(a)

Complete the table of values for y = 2x + 3

x
y

2
(2)

34

(b)

On the grid, draw the graph of y = 2x + 3

y
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1

3x

1
2
3
4
(2)

(c)

Use your graph to find

(i)

the value of y when x = 1.3

y = ....................

(ii)

the value of x when y = 5.4

x = ....................
(2)
(Total 6 marks)

35

58.

(a)

Complete the table of values for y = x2 + x.

x

6
(2)

(b)

On the grid, draw the graph of y = x2 + x.

12
10
8
6
4
2

2
4
6
8
10
12
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

36

59.

The diagram shows a trapezium of height 3 m.

2m
Diagram NOT
accurately drawn
3m

6m
Find the area of this trapezium
State the units with our answer.

................................
(Total 3 marks)

37

60.

A can of drink is in the shape of a cylinder.

The can has a radius of 4 cm and a height of 15 cm.
Diagram NOT
accurately drawn

15 cm

4 cm
Calculate the volume of the cylinder.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

(Total 3 marks)

61.

B
38

x
D

Diagram NOT accurately drawn

38

ABC is parallel to DEFG.

BE = EF.
Angle ABE = 38.
(a)

(i)

Find the value of x.

x = .............................

(ii)

Give a reason for your answer.

......................................................................................................................................
(2)

(b)

Work out the value of y.

y = .............................
(2)
(Total 4 marks)

39

62.

3.2 cm

Y
Diagram NOT
accurately drawn

1.7 cm

Z
XYZ is a right-angled triangle.
XY = 3.2 cm.
XZ = 1.7 cm.
Calculate the length of YZ.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

. cm
(Total 3 marks)

63.
Diagram NOT accurately drawn

6 cm

4 cm

40

PQR is a right-angled triangle.

PR = 6 cm.
QR = 4 cm.
Work out the length of PQ.
Give your answer correct to 3 significant figures.

.....................................cm
(Total 3 marks)

64.

The table shows some expressions.

p, q and r represent lengths.
, 2, 3 and 4 are values that have no dimension.
Place a tick ( ) in the appropriate column for each expression to show whether the expression
can be used to represent a length, an area, a volume or none of these.
Expression

Length

Area

Volume

None of these

3pqr
4p + 2q

r2
(Total 3 marks)

65.

Fred runs 200 metres in 21.2 seconds.

(a)

Work out Freds average speed.

Write down all the figures on your calculator display.

.................................................................... metres per second

(2)

41

(b)

Round off your answer to part (a) to an appropriate degree of accuracy.

................................. metres per second

(1)
(Total 3 marks)

66.

A group of students visited the USA.

The table shows information about the numbers of hamburgers the students bought on the visit.
Number of
hamburgers

Number of
students

Work out the total number of hamburgers that these students bought.

..........................
(Total 3 marks)

42

67.

Here are the times, in minutes, taken to change some tyres.

5

10

15

12

20

35

24

15

20

33

15

25

10

10

20

16

10

In the space below, draw a stem and leaf diagram to show these times.

(Total 3 marks)

68.

A bag contains some sweets.

The flavours of the sweets are either strawberry or chocolate or mint or orange.
Sarah is going to take one sweet at random from the bag.
The table shows the probability that Sarah will take a strawberry sweet or a mint sweet or an
orange sweet.
Flavour
Probability

Strawberry
0.32

Chocolate

Mint

Orange

0.17

0.2

Work out the probability that Sarah will take a chocolate sweet.

.............................
(Total 2 marks)

43

69.

Four teams, City, Rovers, Town and United play a competition to win a cup. Only one team can
win the cup.
The table below shows the probabilities of City or Rovers or Town winning the cup.
City

Rovers

Town

United

0.38

0.27

0.15

Work out the value of x.

.........................
(Total 2 marks)

44

70.

The table shows the number of pages and the weight, in grams, for each of 10 books.
Number of pages

80

130

100

140

115

90

160

140

105

150

Weight (g)

160

270

180

290

230

180

320

270

210

300

(a)

Complete the scatter graph to show the information in the table.

The first 6 points in the table have been plotted for you.
(1)

320
Weight
of book
(g)
300

280

260

240

220

200

180

160
60

80

100

120
Number of pages

140

160

180

45

(b)

For these books, describe the relationship between the number of pages and the weight of
a book.
................................................................................................................................................
................................................................................................................................................
(1)

(c)

Draw a line of best fit on the scatter diagram.

(1)

(d)

Use your line of best fit to estimate

(i)

the number of pages in a book of weight 280 g,

................. pages

(ii)

the weight of a book with 120 pages.

........................ g
(2)
(Total 5 marks)

46