1. Simplify as far as possible.

9x + 3 3x
(a) = (b) =
3x 4x − x2

(2x)2 − 8x x2 + 2x
(c) = (d) =
4x x2 − 3x

x2 + 7x + 10 x2 + x − 6
(e) = (f) =
x2 − 4 x2 + 2x − 3

2. Simplify the following.

3x 2x 4x 2x
(a) + = (b) − =
4 5 3 3

5 3
(c) + =
x−2 x+3

3. Make x the subject of the following.

(a) x + A = T (b) L = x + D2

(c) nx − s2 = t (d) h(x + n) = a

Ax + B B − Ax
(e) =D (f) =E
C D
 4. Make x the subject of the following.
√
(a) d − x = T (b) b = a + x2

√ 2x − 5
(c) x2 − A = B (d) x + m =
m

r
x x2 − n a2
r
(e) t = 2π (f) a =
g m b

5. The energy E stored in an elastic band varies as the square of the extension x. When
the elastic is extended by 3 cm, the energy stored is 243 J (joules).
(a) What is the energy stored when the extension is 5 cm?
(b) What is the extension when the stored energy is 36 J?

6. M is inversely proportional to the square of l. If M = 9 when l = 2, find:

(a) M when l = 10 (b) l when M = 1

7. Express in index form.

(a) y 6 × y 7 = (b) x−1 × x30 = (c) (2n)4 ÷ 8n0 =

1 1 1
(d) (7y 3 )2 = (e) (3x)2 × ( 91 x2 ) 2 = (f) (y 2 ) 6 ÷ (9x) 2 =

8. Evaluate the following.

1 3
(a) 1000 = (b) 25− 2 = (c) 4− 2 =

1
− 12 2 5 −3 92
(d) (4 ) = (e) 3 × 3 = (f) 1 =
4− 2

9. Introduce one of the symbols <, > or = between each pair of numbers.
1 1
(a) 52 25 (b) 50% (c) 0.72
5 2

 0
1 6 7
(d) − −1 (e) (f) (−8)0 80
5 7 6
 10. Solve inequalities and show the results on the number lines.

(a) 2(x + 1) = x − 7 (b) 8 < 9 − x

(c) 0 6 2x < 10 (d) 10 6 2x 6 x + 9

11. Find an integer value of y such that 3y − 4 < 12 < 4y − 5.

The 6 problems
12. 10 ladybirds eat 400 greenflies in 3 hours. How many ladybirds are needed to eat
4000 greenfies in 12 hours?
13. In a laboratory we start with 2 cells in a dish. The number of cells in the dish
doubles every 30 minutes. How many cells are in the dish after 10 12 hours? (Write the result
in the index form). After 11 hours an experimental fluid was added and eliminated half of
the cells. How many cells are left?
14. A road research organization claimed that the damage to road surfaces was propor-
tional to the fourth power of the axle load. The axle load of a 44-tonne HGV is about 15
times that of a car. Calculate the ratio of the damage to road surfaces made by 44-tonne
HGV and a car.
15. The force of attraction F between two magnets varies inversely as the square of
the distance d between them. When the magnets are 2 cm apart, the force of attraction is
18 N (newtons). If we increase the distance 4 times then by how many times the force of
attraction decreases?