WAEC BECE

Mathematics
Past Questions & Solutions
JUNE 2014

MATHEMATICS 1
Objective Test
1 Hour
1. If set N is a subset of set M, then
A. sets M and N have the same number of elements
B. some members of set N can be found in set M
C. no member of set N is in set M
D. all members of set N are in set M

The Venn diagram shows the number of pupils who offer Mathematics (M) and / or English in a
class.

Use this information to answer Questions 2 and 3.

2. How many pupils offer Mathematics?

A. 10
B. 18
C. 25
D. 28

3. How many pupils offer only one subject?

A. 3
B. 7
C. 18
D. 21

4. Simplify: 12 – 7 – (– 5)
A. 10
B. 2
C. 0
D. 10

5. Express 72 as a product of its prime factors

A. 2 × 33
B. 22 × 33
C. 23 × 3
D. 23 × 32
6. Find the smallest number which is divisible by 16 and 20?
A. 40
B. 80
C. 120
D. 160

7. Convert 243five to a base ten numeral.

A. 40
B. 43
C. 45
D. 73

8. A pineapple which was bought for GH¢ 1.00 was sold at GH¢ 1.30. Calculate the profit percent.
A. 10%
B. 20%
C. 23%
D. 30%

9. Simplify 35x5y3 ÷ 7 xy2

A. 5x4y
B. 5x4y5
C. 5x6y
D. 5x6y5

10. Two bells P and Q ring at intervals of 3 hours and 4 hours, respectively. After how many hours will
the two bells first ring simultaneously (at the same time)?
A. 6 hours
B. 8 hours
C. 12 hours
D. 24 hours

17
11. A boy scores in a French test. Express his score as a percentage.
25
A. 17%
B. 34%
C. 68%
D. 85%

2 5 3
12. Arrange the following fractions in ascending order of magnitude , 𝑎𝑛𝑑 , ,
5, 12 4
2 3 5
A. , ,
5, 4 12
2 5 3
B. , ,
5, 12 4
5 2 3
C. , ,
12, 5 4
3 2 5
D. , ,
4, 5 12
13. Kofi paid rent of GH¢ 1,800.00 each year. If the rent is 0.3 of his annual income, find his annual
income.
A. GH¢ 600.00
B. GH¢5,400.00
C. GH¢ 6,000.00
D. GH¢ 18,000.00

14. I gave a storekeeper a GH¢10.00 note for goods I bought. He asked me for another 15Gp for ease of
change. If he then gave me 50 Gp, how much did I pay for the goods?
A. GH¢ 9.35
B. GH¢ 9.45
C. GH¢ 9.65
D. GH¢ 10.65

15. Kojo can buy 15 shirts at GH¢ 4.00 each. If the price is increased to GH¢ 5.00, how many shirts can
he now buy?
A. 12
B. 15
C. 19
D. 20

16. A hall which is 8m long is represented on a diagram as 4 cm long. What is the scale of the diagram?
A. 1:200
B. 1:250
C. 1:400
D. 1:800

17. Jane arrived at work at 7:55 am and left at 4:15 pm. For how long was she at work?
A. 7 hr 20 min
B. 7 hr 45 min
C. 8 hr 20 min
D. 8 hr 40 min

18. Given that (3.14 × 18) × 17.5 = 3.14 × (3p × 17.5), find the value of p
A. 3.0
B. 5.8
C. 6.0
D. 9.0

The pie chart shows how Kwaku spends his monthly salary.
 Use this information to answer Questions 19 to 21

19. Find the value of x

A. 65°
B. 75°
C. 85°
D. 100°

20. Kwaku earns GH¢ 630.00 a month. How much of this does he spend on food?
A. GH¢ 140.00
B. GH¢ 157.00
C. GH¢ 210.00
D. GH¢ 350.00

21. What percentage of his salary does he spend on rent and utilities?
A. 12.1%
B. 12.5%
C. 22.2%
D. 33.3%

22. In an enlargement with scale factor 2, which of the following statements is not true?
Each length is multiplied by 2
A.
Each angle remains the same
B.
The shape of the figure does not change.
C.
The size of the figure does not change.
D.

23. Kofi, Kojo and Ama shared GH¢ 480,000.00 in the ratio 3:5:4. How much did Ama receive?
A. GH¢ 160,000.00
B. GH¢ 200,000.00
C. GH¢ 218,181.81
D. GH¢ 342,859.14

24. If w = 12, x = 5, y = 6 and z = 4, find the value of wx – yz.

A. 18
B. 27
C. 36
 D. 84

25. A man was 24 years old when his son was born. Now he is three times as old as his son. Find the
age of the son.
6 years
A.
12 years
B.
18 years
C.
36 years
D.

26. There are 20 identical balls in a box. Twelve are blue and the rest are green. If one ball is taken at
random from the box, find the probability that the ball is green.
1
A. 20
2
B. 5
3
C. 5
3
D. 4

27. Using the following mapping, find the missing numbers p and q.

x 1 2 3 4 5 6
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
y 3 5 p 9 11 q

A. p = 6, q = 12
B. p = 6, q = 13
C. p = 7, q = 12
D. p = 7, q = 13

28. The perimeter of a rectangle is 24 cm. If the length is 7 cm, find its width.
3 cm
A.
5 cm
B.
10 cm
C.
12 cm
D.

29. A boy walks on a bearing 070°. Which of the following diagrams show his direction?
30. How many faces has a cube?
4
A.
6
B.
8
C.
D. 12

31. The diameter of a circular tray is 28 cm. Find the area of the tray. [Take π = 22]
7
44 cm2
A.
88 cm2
B.
154 cm2
C.
616 cm2
D.

32. Calculate the volume of a cylinder with radius 7 cm and height 10 cm. [Take π = 22]
7
220 cm3
A.
440 cm3
B.
C. 1,540 cm3
D. 3,080 cm3

Use the diagram below to answer questions 33 and 34

33. Find the value of e.

A. 38°
B. 40°
C. 88°
D. 92°

34. Find the angle marked d

 A. 38°
B. 40°
C. 48°
D. 88°

35. A 3.6 m long string is to be cut into pieces, each of length 40 cm. How many pieces can be cut from
the string?
4
A.
6
B.
8
C.
9
D.
7𝑥
36. Solve the inequality 2𝑥 + 10 ≥ − 5
2
x ≤ 10
A.
x ≥ 10
B.
x ≤ 40
C.
x ≥ 40
D.

37. The point P (5, 4) is reflected in the y-axis. Find its image.
A. (– 5, 4)
B. (5, –4)
C. (–4, 5)
D. (4, –5)

4
38. If ( ) = ( 𝑥 − 3 ) , find the value of x.
11 11

1
A.
1
B.
7
C.
D. 12

39. Find the gradient of the line which passes through the points M(–1, 2) and N(6, –3)
−5
A. 7
−7
B. 5
5
C. 7
7
D. 5

40. Find the next two terms in the sequence 11, 7, 3, –1, , .
A. 5, 9
B. 3, 7
C. –4, –9
D. –5, –9
JUNE 2014

MATHEMATICS 1
Objective Test
SOLUTIONS
1. D. all members of set N are in set M
2. C. 25
3. D. 21
4. D. 10
5. D. 23 × 32
6. B. 80
7. D. 73
8. D. 30%
9. A. 5x4y
10. C. 12 hours
11. C. 68%
2 5 3
12. B. , ,
5 12 4

13. C. GHC 6,000

14. C. GHC 9.65
15. A. 12
16. A. 1:200
17. C. 8hr 20 min
18. C. 6.0
19. A. 65°
20. C. 210°
21. C. 22.2%
22. D. The size of the figure does not change
23. A. GHC 160,000.00
24. C. 36
25. B. 12 years
2
26. B. 5

27. D. p = 7, q = 13
28. B. 5 cm
29. B.
30. B. 6
31. D. 616 cm2
32. C. 1540 cm3
33. D. 92°
34. B. 40°
35. D. 9
36. A. x ≤ 10
37. A. (-5, 4)
38. C. 7
−5
39. A.
7

40. D. –5, –9
JUNE 2014

MATHEMATICS 2
Essay
1 hour

1. (a) P = {factors of 30}

Q = {Multiples of 5 less than 40}
Find P ∩ Q

(b) A trader saved GH¢ 200.00 for 3 years at 12% simple interest per annum.
What will be the total amount in the trader’s account at the end of the 3 years?

4.56 ×3.6
(c) Evaluate and leave your answer in standard form.
0.12

2. (a) (i) Ama scored 82, 74 and 90 in three tests. What mark should she score in the fourth test
so that her average mark for the four tests would be 85?

(ii) What was her median score in the four tests?

(b)

In the diagram ̅𝐴̅𝐷̅ is parallel to ̅𝐸̅𝐺̅ , angle CFG = 40° and triangle BCF is isosceles.
Find the value of :
(i) angle CBF
(ii) angle DCF;
(iii) x

3. (a) Solve for x, if

1 2 3 1
𝑥+1 <− 𝑥−
3 3 4 2
 (b) The following shows the distribution of marks of students in an examination.

6 43 26 18 27
42 8 22 31 39
55 44 37 47 59
10 12 36 53 48

(i) Make a stem-and-leaf plot of the marks above

(ii) Find the probability of selecting a student who scored between 40 and 50.
(iii) Find the number of students who passed the examination, if the pass mark was 30.

4. (a) A box has length 8.0 cm, width 5.0 cm and height 10.0 cm.
Find the:
(i) total surface area of the box
(ii) the volume of the box.

(b) (i) Using a scale of 2cm to 1 unit on both axes, draw two perpendicular axes Ox and Oy
on a graph sheet.
(ii) On the same graph sheet mark the x-axis from –5 to 5 and the y-axis from – 6 to 6
(iii) Plot and join the points
A(0, 3), B(2, 3), C(4, 5) to form triangle ABC.
−1
(iv) Draw the image A1B1C1 of triangle ABC under a translation by the vector ( )
−1
(v) Draw the image A2B2C2 of triangle ABC under a reflection in the x - axis

5. (a) Using a ruler and a pair of compass only;

(i) construct triangle PQR such that ̅|̅P̅R̅| = 8cm, ̅|̅P̅Q̅| = 6 cm and ̅|̅Q̅R̅| = 5cm;
(i) construct the perpendicular bisector of ̅P̅ R̅and label it l1;
(i) construct the perpendicular bisector of ̅Q̅R̅and label it l2;
(iv) Label the point of intersection of l1 and l2 as N;
(v) With N as centre and radius equal to |PN|, draw a circle.

(b) (i) Measure the radius of the circle.

(ii) Calculate the circumference of the circle, correct to 3 significant figures.
[Take π = 3.14]

6. (a) Factorize completely 6xy – 3y + 4x – 2

(b)
 NOT DRAWN TO SCALE

The diagram shows a ladder AB which leans against a vertical wall PQ at B.

If |PB| is 8 m, and the other end of the ladder is 6 m away from the foot of the wall (at P), find the
length of the ladder (|AB|)

(c) Kojo had 1800 bags of rice in stock for sale. In January, he sold ⅔ of it.
In February, he sold ¾ of what was left.

(i) What fraction of the stock of rice did he sell

(α) in February?
(β) in January and February?
(ii) How many bags of rice were left unsold, by the end of February?
JUNE 2014

MATHEMATICS 2
Essay
SOLUTIONS
1. (a) P = {1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10, 15, 30}
Q = {5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35}
P∩Q = {5, 10, 15, 30}

1. (b) Total amount = Simple Interest + Principal

Simple interest = Principal  Rate  Time

Simple interest = 200  12%  3
12
= 200  3
100
= 2 × 12 × 3
Simple interest = GHC 72.00

Total amount = Interest + Principal

= GHC 72.00 + GHC 200.00
= GHC 272.00

4.56  3.6
1. (c) 0.12
STEPS (1st Method)

1st Method 1. Multiply both numerator and denominator by 1000

(4.56  3.6) 1000 (or shift the decimal point 3 places to the right in both numerator and

= 0.12 1000 denominator – to convert to whole numbers)

2. Divide (‘cancel’) both 36 and 120 by 12 to get 3 and 10 resp.

456  36
3. Multiply 456 by 3 to get 1368
= 120 4. Shift the decimal point 1 place to the left (because of division by 10)

456  3 1368 5. Convert to standard form by shifting decimal point 2 places to the left
=
= 10 10 and multiplying by 10 to the power 2 (because decimal point was shifted 2

times)
= 136.8
= 1.368 × 102
1 (c) 2nd Method

4.56  3.6 STEPS (2nd Method)

0.12 1. Express using the ÷ sign
2. Change all decimals to fractions
= (4.56 × 3.6) ÷ 0.12
3. Change the ÷ sign to × and
456 36 12 12 100
  100 12
= 100 10 100 turn the divisor ( ) upside down to ( )

4. Divide (‘cancel’) 36 and 12 by 12 to get 3 and 1 resp.&

456 36 100
  Divide (‘cancel’) 100 (numerator) by 100 (denominator) to get 1 and 1
= 100 10 12 respectively
5.Multiply 456 by 3 to get 1368
456 3 1
  6. Shift the decimal point 1 place to the left (because of division by 10)
= 1 10 1 7. Convert to standard form by shifting decimal point 2 places to the left

456  3 1368 and multiplying by 10 to the power 2 (because decimal point was
=
= 10 10 shifted 2 times to the left)

= 136.8
= 1.368 × 102

1 (c) 3rd Method

4.56  3.6
= 0.12
STEPS (3rd Method)
456 10−2  36 10−1 1. Change decimals to whole numbers by shifting decimal point to the

= 12 10 −2 right and multiplying by 10 raised to negated same no.of times the
point was shifted.
456  36 10 −1 10−2 2. Rearrange to group similar number forms

= 12 10 −2 3. Divide 36 (numerator) by 12 (denominator) to get 3

4. Divide 10 –2 (numerator) by 10 –2 (denominator) to get 1
456  3 10−1 10 −2
5. Multiply 456 by 3 to get 1368
= 10 −2 6. Express 1368 in standarm form to get 1.368× 103

= 1368 10−1 7. Simplify 103 × 10–1 by adding the powers [3 + (-1) = 3-1 = 2]

= 1.368 × 103 × 10-1

= 1.368 × 103+ (-1)
= 1.368 × 102
2. (a) (i) Let x = Ama’s score in the fourth test

Method 1
82 + 74 + 90 + x = 85
Mean = 4 1. Write an expression for her mean score, using the
given scores,
246 + x
⇒
= 85 2. Multiplying both sides by 4 (to clear fraction)
4 Or ‘Cross-multiply’
3. Subtract 246 from both sides
⇒ 246 + x = 4 × 85 (send 246 across the ‘=’ sign and negate it)
⇒ x = 340 – 246 4. Simplify to get answer.

⇒ x = 94

2. (a) (i) Method 2

Total marks = No. of marks × mean mark
= 4 × 85
= 340
Sum of first 3 marks = 82 + 74 + 90
= 246
Ama’s fourth mark = Total mark – sum of first three
= 340 – 246
= 94

(a) (ii) Median score

Scores arranged in order gives 74, 82, 90, 94
82 + 90 172
Median =
=
2 2
= 86

(b) (i) Since angles BCF and CFG are alternate angles,
⇒ Angle BCF = 40°
Now, since base angles of isosceles triangle BFC are equal,
⇒ Angle CBF = 40°

(ii) angle DCF + angle BCF = 180° (angles at a point on a straight line = 180°)
⇒ angle DCF + 40° = 180°
⇒ angle DCF = 180° – 40°
= 140°

(iii) 2x + 40° + 40° = 180° (Sum of interior angles of a triangle = 180°)

2x + 80° = 180°
2x = 180° – 80°
2x = 100°
 2x 100
=
2 2
x = 50

3. (a) Solve for x,

1x+1 2  −3x−1
3
3 4 2

Method 1
3 1
x+ − x−
1 5
31  3  5 4 2 3  1
12 x + 12  − 12 x − 12
STEPS (Method 1)
1. Change mixed fraction (1 2/3) to improper
        fraction (5/3)
 
3  
3 4  2 2. Multiply both sides by 12 (LCM of denominators)
4(x) + 4(5)  − 3(3x) − 6(1) 3. Simplify each term

4x + 20 < – 9x – 6 4. Group like terms on same side

4x + 9x < – 20 – 6 5. Simplify

13 x < – 26 6. Divide both sides by 13

13x − 26

13 13
x < –2

3. (a) Method 2
1 5 −3x−1
x+
3 3 4 2 STEPS (Method 2)

1(x) + 1(5) − 1(3x) − 2(1) 1. Simplify (add / subtract) fractions on both sides
 2. Multiply both sides by 12 (LCM of denominators)
3 4
3. Simplify (‘cancel’)
x+5 − 3x − 2
 4. Expand and simplify
3 4 5. Group like terms on same side
x+5  − 3x − 2 
12  12 6. Simplify
    7. Divide both sides by 13
 3   4 
4 (x + 5) < 3(– 3x – 2)
4x + 20 < – 9x – 6
4x + 9x < – 20 – 6
13 x < – 26
13x − 26

13 13
x < –2

3.(b)(i) Stem-and-leaf plot

 Stem Leaf
0 6, 8
1 0, 2, 8
2 2, 6, 7
3 1, 6, 7, 9
4 2, 3, 4, 7, 8
5 3, 5, 9

(ii) Probability of selecting a student who scored between 40 and 50

No. of students who scored between 40 and 50

=
Total no. of students
5 students 5
= =
20 students 20
1
=
4

(iii) Number of students who passed, if the pass mark was 30

= n (31, 36, 37, 39, 42, 43, 44, 47, 48, 53, 55, 59)
= 12 students

4. (a) (i) Let length = l, width = w, height = h

Total surface area = 2lw + 2lh + 2wh,

= (2× 8cm × 5cm) + (2 × 8cm × 10cm) + (2 × 5cm × 10cm)
= 80cm2 + 160cm2 + 100cm2
= 340 cm2

(ii) Volume = l×w×h

= 8cm × 5cm × 10cm
= 400 cm3

4 (b)
5. (a)
Q L2

P N R

L1

(b) (i) Radius = 4.0cm (or 4.1cm)

(ii) If r = 4.0 cm
C = 2 πr
 = 2 × 3.14 × 4 cm
= 25.12 cm

Or if r = 4.1cm
C = 2 × 3.14 × 4.1 cm
= 25.748 cm

6. (a) 6xy – 3y + 4x – 2
3y(2x – 1) + 2(2x – 1)
(2x – 1) (3y + 2)

(b) The length of the ladder AB forms the hypotenuse of the right-angled triangle ABP
From the Pythagorean theorem,
|AB|2 = |AP|2 + |BP|2
= (6)2 + (8)2
= 36 + 64
|AB| =
2 100
⇒ |AB| = 100
= 10 m
The length of the ladder AB is 10 m

6. (c) Method 1

2
No. of bags sold in January =  1800
3
= 2 × 600
= 1200

No. of bags left = 1800–1200

= 600

3
No. of bags sold in February =  600
4
= 3 × 150
= 450

(i) (𝛼) Fraction ofbags sold in February = No. of bags sold in February
Total no. of bags
450
=
1800
1
=
4

1200 + 450
(i) (𝛽) Fraction of bags sold in Jan and Feb =
1800
 1650
=
1800
11
=
12

(ii) No.of bags left unsold by the end of February = 1800 – 1650
= 150

6. (c) Method 2

2
Fraction sold in January =
3
2
Fraction left = 1−
3
1 2
= −
1 3
3−2
=
3
1
=
3

3
(i) (𝛼) Fraction sold in February = 4 of fraction left
3 1
= 
4 3
1 1
= 
4 1
1
Fraction sold in Feb. =
4

(i) (𝛽) Fraction sold In January and February

2 1
= +
3 4
4(2) + 3(1)
=
12
8+3 11
= =
12 12

(ii) No. of bags left unsold by end of February

= Fraction left unsold × Total no. of bags

 11
But fraction left unsold = 1−
12
12 11
= −
12 12
1
=
12
Therefore No. of bags left unsold by end of February
1
= 1800 bags
12
= 1 × 150 bags
= 150 bags