Name: _______________________________________________

 
 
 
 

Setting up and solving a formula

 
Mark Scheme and Examiners Report
 
Date:
 
 
 
 
Time: 24 minutes
 
Total marks available: 24
 
Total marks achieved: ______
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

LW
 
Examiner's Report

Q1.

There were a number of possible equations that could be formed from the diagram. Generally speaking
those who managed to form a correct equation went on to score at least two marks. Some candidates
experienced difficulty in carrying out the final division, usually 351 ÷ 9. As the answer was an integer value
it was necessary to give the final answer as 39 rather than a top-heavy fraction. The most popular method
of solution was to find an expression for the sum of the angles and then equate this to 360. A large
number of candidates did find the correct sum of the angles but then either equated this to zero or 180 or
tried to solve 9x = 9, none of these approaches enabled any marks to be awarded. A minority of
candidates realised that a more efficient method of solution was to equate the opposite angles or sum the
co-interior angles to 180. There was very little evidence of the checking of final solutions which may have
helped come candidates to reconsider their answer.

Q2.

Most candidates demonstrated an understanding of perimeter by attempting to sum the three

expressions, but there were many examples of incorrect algebraic manipulation as part of that process.
The majority arrived at x = 8, but there were few who could then correctly substitute this value in order to
find the area, with many typically forgetting the division of 2 in finding the area of the triangle.

Q3.
 
Many candidates were unable to make any meaningful progress because they failed to spot that the
triangle was isosceles and consequently this question was answered very poorly. Candidates who did
recognise that AB = AC usually wrote the equation 3x − 5 = 19 − x. Isolating the x terms and the non-x
terms in this equation proved a challenge for many with 2x = 14 being quite a common error. Those who
solved the equation correctly almost always went on to work out the perimeter as 38 cm. There were a
number of trial and error attempts to find the value of x. The majority of candidates worked out the
perimeter as an algebraic expression which was usually simplified to 4x + 14. This was often turned into
the equation 4x = 14 (or 4x = −14) and solved to give x = 3.5 (or x = −3.5). Many candidates scored just
one mark for this question for substituting their value of x into either 4x + 14 or into the three expressions
and adding to find the perimeter.

Q4.

This question elicited a wide variety of responses. Many were unable to correctly identify all three terms
that needed adding or else they tried to substitute numbers. Of those that managed to add x, x + 3 and 2x
and gain one mark the second mark was lost by incorrect simplification, forgetting to divide by 3 or most
commonly failing to realise the importance of brackets, with 4x + 3/3 and similar expressions being
disappointingly common. Even though the question asked for an expression many candidates felt the
need to express their answer in the form of a formula, providing the letter they chose was not x they were
not penalised.
Q5.

This question was well attempted but only the most able candidates gained full marks. Many candidates
scored M1 for 5x or 7y though these expressions were often found in a jumble of algebraic expressions.

Common incorrect responses included just 5x+7y, and

Weaker candidates used 1⁄5 and 1⁄7 with no letters, described a process, made up numbers to use or wrote
12xy.

Q6.

Many candidates started this problem correctly by intending to multiply the three expressions. But few
were then able to manipulate the expressions in order to produce a simplification. Over-simplification
spoilt some answers that would otherwise have been correct. Candidates earned little credit when adding
the expressions, trying to find the surface area, or failing to divide by 2 for a triangle, of which there were
a significant number. As with all formulae, there was a need for a left hand side to the formula; very few
included "V=" in their stated formula, which regrettably was a mark lost, an issue worth raising with future
candidates.

Q7.

The majority of candidates scored full marks. Some formed an algebraic equation but others just
subtracted 15 from the total of 63 and then divided by 3. The most common error was to divide by 2
instead of by 3. Some candidates showed fully correct working but then identified Ellie's total, 32, as the
answer, so losing the final mark. Some candidates experimented with combinations of numbers which
often gave the correct result.

Q8.
 
Very few candidates attempted to solve this problem algebraically, the majority employing trial and
improvement methods. Some used a ratio approach which was usually fully correct. Some candidates
found the correct costs without showing a clear method but could gain full credit if they showed clearly
that their total cost of the 8 purses and 9 key rings was £40

The most common error, scoring no marks, was to divide £40 in the ration 1 : 2 and then find their costs
by dividing the two parts by 8 and 9 for the cost of a purse and key ring respectively. This led to answers
where the price of a purse was not double the price of a key-ring.

Mark Scheme
Q1.

Question Working Answer Mark Notes

    3x–15 = 39 3 M1 for
2x+24 forming an
x = 39 OR appropriate
2x+3x–15 equation eg.
+2x+ 2x+24 3x – 15 = 2x
= 360 + 24 OR
9x + 9 = 360 2x + 3x – 15
9x = 351 + 2x + 2x +
x = 39 OR 24 = 360 OR
2x + 2x+24 2x + 2x + 24
= 180 = 180 OR
4x + 24 = 2x + 3x –15
180 = 180 OR
4x = 156 2x + 3x – 15
x = 39 OR = 2x + 2x +
2x + 3x–15 24 M1 (dep)
= 180 for correct
5x – 15 = operation(s)
180 to isolate x
5x = 195 and non-x
x = 39 terms in an
equation to
get to ax = b
A1 cao OR
M2 for 351⁄9
oe or 195⁄5 oe
or 156⁄4 oe A1
cao
 

Q2.
 
Question Working Answer Mark Notes
      84 4 M1 for x – 1
+ 3x + 1 + 3x
(= 56) or 7x
= 56+1–1 or

oe
M1  for 7x =
56 or 8 seen
M1  for
0.5×('8' –
1)×(3×'8')
A1   cao
Ignore any
statement of
 units.
SC B2 for 8
as the
answer or 7
identified as
the height
and 24
identified as
the base of
the triangle.
 

Q3.

Q4.

Question Working Answer Mark Notes

     (x + x + 3 + 2 M1 x + x + 3
2x) ÷ 3 + 2x (=4x+3)
oe oe or 4x+3÷3
oe
A1

oe
 

Q5.
 Question Working Answer Mark Notes
   

Q6.

Question Working Answer Mark Notes

    ½ × 2x × x × V = x³ + 10x² 3 M1 for ½ ×
(x + 10) 2x × x × (x +
10)
A1 for x³ +
10x² or x²( x
+ 10)
B1 for V =
cubic
expression in
x

Q7.

  Working Answer Mark Notes

    x + 2x + 15 = 16 3 M1 for x + 2x
63 + 15 = 63
3x = 48   M1 for
attempt to
subtract 15
from each
side of their
equation
A1 cao OR
M1 for 63 –
15 (= 48)
M1 for '48' ÷
3
A1 cao OR
M2 for 16
and 32 seen
(M1 for a
strategy
using at least
two pairs
with the ratio
1 : 2)
 A1 cao
 

Q8.