Solving Equations

January 1995
3. (c) A farmer shared 496 tomatoes among her three workers: Paula, Greta and
Gertrude. Greta received16 more than Paula. Gertrude received three
times as Paula. Calculate the number of tomatoes Paula received. (4
marks)

January 1996
2. (d) The width "𝑤" of a rectangular lawn is 3 metres less than half its length
"𝑙".
The perimeter is 42 metres.
(i) Show that 𝑤 + 𝑙 = 21. (1 mark)
(ii) Write an equation for the width, "𝑤" , in terms of the length, "𝑙".
(1 mark)
(iii) Calculate, in metres, the width, "𝑤" , of the lawn. (3 marks)
June 1998
2. (c) Ninety tickets were sold for a concert, 𝑥 tickets were sold for $3.00 each
and
the rest of the tickets were sold for $4.00 each.
Write an expression in 𝑥 to represent the number of tickets sold at
(i) $3.00 each
(ii) $4.00 each
(iii) If the total sales on all tickets amounted to $300.00, how many of
the tickets costing $3.00 were sold? (4
marks)
June 2000
2. (b) The floor of a room is in the shape of a rectangle. The floor is 𝑐 metres
long.
The width of the floor is 2 metres less than its length.
(i) State in terms of 𝑐
(a) the width of the floor
(b) the area of the floor
 (ii) If the area of the floor is 15m2, write down an equation in 𝑐 to
show this information.
(iii) Use the equation to determine the width of the floor. (7 marks)
June 2005
2. (c) Adam, Imran and Shakeel were playing a card game.

Adam scored x points

Imran scored 3 points fewer than Adam
Shakeel scored twice as many points as Imran
Together they scored 39 points.

(i) Write down, in terms of x, an expression for the number of points

scored by Shakeel. (2 marks)
(ii) Write an equation which may be used to find the value of 𝑥.
(2 marks)
9. (b) A strip of wire of length 32cm is cut into two pieces. One piece is bent to
form a square of side . The other piece is bent to form a rectangle of
length 𝑙
cm and width 3 cm.

The diagram below, not drawn to scale, show the square and the
rectangle.

3cm
𝑥 cm

𝑙 cm
𝑥 cm

(i) Write an expression, in terms of 𝑙 and 𝑥, for the length of the strip of wire.
(2 marks)
(ii) Show that 𝑙 = 13 – 2𝑥. (2 marks)
January 2007
2. (c) The cost of ONE muffin is $𝑚.
The cost of THREE cupcakes is $2𝑚.

(i) Write an algebraic expression in 𝑚 for the cost of:

a) FIVE muffins (1 mark)
b) SIX cupcakes (1 mark)

(ii) Write an equation, in terms of 𝑚, to represent the following

information.
The TOTAL cost of 5 muffins and 6 cupcakes is $31.50. (1 mark)
January 2008
2. (c) The table below shows the types of cakes available at a bakery, the cost of
each cake and the number of cakes sold for a given day.

TYPE OF CAKE COST ($) NO. OF CAKES SOLD

Sponge (𝑘 + 5) 2

Chocolate 𝑘 10

Fruit 2𝑘 4

(i) Write an expression, in terms of 𝑘, for the amount of money

collected from the sale of sponge cakes for the day.
(1 mark)

(ii) Write an expression, in terms of 𝑘, for the TOTAL amount of

money collected. (2
marks)
 The total amount of money collected at the bakery for the day was
$140.00.
(iii) Determine the value of k. (2 marks)

January 2009
2. (d) A drinking straw of length of 21cm is cut into three pieces.
The length of the first piece is 𝑥 cm.
The second piece is 3 cm shorter than the first piece.
The third piece is twice as long as the first piece.

(i) State, in terms of 𝑥, the length of EACH of the pieces. (2 marks)

(ii) Write an expression, in terms of 𝑥, to represent the sum of the
lengths of the three pieces of drinking straw. (1
mark)
(iii) Hence, calculate the value of 𝑥. (3 marks)
 Solving Fractional Equations

June 1989
(𝑥 −2) 𝑥−3
2. (c) Solve 3 − = 4 (4 marks)
2 4

June 1992
2𝑥−1 𝑥+5
2. (a) Solve − = 2 (4 marks)
2 3

June 1995
𝑃−1 𝑝−2
2. (b) Solve: − = 1 (3 marks)
2 3

June 1996
2. (d) Solve the equation:
4𝑥 + 5 9 + 2𝑥
− =0 (3 marks)
4 3
June 1997
3𝑥+1 𝑥−2 2𝑥−3
2. (a) If − = 2 + , find the value of 𝑥. (5 marks)
3 2 3

January 1999
2. (d) Solve the equation
2𝑥−3 𝑥+4
− =1 (4 marks)
2 4
January 2001
𝑥
2. (c) Solve the equation + 16 = 2𝑥 (2 marks)
4

January 2003
2. (a) Solve for 𝑥.
𝑥+2 𝑥−1
− = 2 (3 marks)
2 3
January 2007
2. (b) Solve for x where 𝑥 ∈ 𝒁:
𝑥 𝑥
(i) + =5 (3 marks)
2 3