NATIONAL CURRICULUM STATEMENT

GRADE 8 COMMON EXAMINATION

2012

LEARNING AREA : MATHEMATICS

CODE :

TASK : COMMON EXAMINATION

TIME : 2 HOURS

MARKS : 150

1
INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION
1. This Question Paper consists of two sections, Section A and
Section B.

2. Section A consists of fifteen multiple choice questions. Answer this

section on the answer sheet provided. Four possible answers are
given. Make an x across the answer per question on the
answer sheet provided. If more than one answer is selected
per question, the marks will be forfeited.

e.g. A B C D

3. Section B consists of seven questions. Answer ALL questions.

4. Write your name and surname on the top of all loose pages.

5. Read through the questions carefully and make sure that you
allocate enough time for each question.

6. All working must be clearly shown on the answer sheet.

7. A non-programmable calculator may be used.

8. Provide reasons for all geometry proofs.

9. It is in your best interest to write legibly and present your work

neatly.

2
Section A

1. √3 1000 + √ 64 =

A. 2 B. 16 C. 18 D. 164 (1)

2. 1
0, 12(3 + ) ÷ (1, 25 + 0, 75) when simplified is:
3

1 1 (1)
A: 0, 25 B: C: 0, 5 D:
3 5

3. The value(s) of a for which the number 365a 4 is divisible by 4

is(are):

A. 2 B. 0 C. { 0, 2, 4, 6, 8} D. { 2, 4, 8} (1)

4.
The HCF of 15 x y
2
; 42 x 3 y 2 ; 57 xy is:

A. 630 x 3 y 2 B. 24 x y
2
C. 3 xy D. 3 x
2

(1)

5. The equation or formula that best defines the number of dog paws is:
Number of 1 2 3 5
dogs
Number of 4 8 12 20
paws

A. Tn = n + 3 B. Tn = 2n + 6 C. Tn = 2n - 3 D. Tn = 4n

3
 (1)

6. 3x2 – x + 4 added to -3x + 4 is equal to:

A. x + 8 B. 3x2 - 4x + 8 C. 8 D. 3x2 +2x

(1)

The solid below is a:

7.

A. Triangular prism B. Pentagon C. Square pyramid

D. Cuboids
(1)

If AB // CD, then the value of x is:

8.

120 0
A B

C x D

A. 600 B. 1200
C. 300 D. 2400 (1)

4
9. The size of the angle marked x is:

A. 400 B. 600 C. 700D. 800 (1)

10. In triangle ABC below, the value of x is:

500

B 2x-100 460 C

A. 860 B. 420 C. 940 D. 470 (1)

11. In the right angled triangle ABC, the length of side

BC = __________
A

4 cm 5cm

B C

(1)

5
 A. 9 cm B. 9 cm2 C. 25 cm D. 3 cm
Which option below best describes the type of transformation from
12.
figure ABC to figure A'B'C' depicted below:
A
B C

B' C'
A'
(1)
A. Reflection and rotation B. Reflection
C. translation D. Reflection and Translation
13. The mean of 9 , 15 , 9 , 15 , 17, 15 , 11 , 18 , 15 , 19 is:

A. 10 B. 15 C. 143 D. 14,3
(1)

14. The probability of getting a 5 when a dice is tossed once is:

1 1 1
(1)
B. 2 C. 6 D. 5
A. 5

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15. The range of the data below is:

A. 69,6 ¿ 70 B. {120,40} C. 80 D. 140

Number of Boys per Grade

140

120

100
Number of boys

80
Series1
60

40

20

0
Gr 8 Gr 9 Gr 10 Gr 11 Gr 12
Grade
(1)

Total [15]

7
 SECTION B

Question 1
1.1 The map shows minimum temperatures in different South African
towns and cities on the 7th June 2012. Study the map and then
answer the questions that follow.

1.1.1
Which town or city is the coldest on this day?
(1)
1.1.2 Use the temperatures provided on the above map to
calculate the average temperature of Pretoria,
Johannesburg and Vereeniging.
(1)

8
 1.1.3 Complete the table below and arrange the temperatures
on a number line, for the towns on the table. (Use the
table provided on the diagram sheet).

Pietermaritzburg

Johannesburg

Rustenburg
Cape Town
Name of City/Town

Nelspruit
Pretoria
Temperature (in 0C)
(3)
1.2 Simplify the following:

1.2.1 -9 + (-25) + (-11) + (+2)

(2)
3
1.3 Write 12,5 × 10 in standard form.
(1)
1.4 3
Simplify 20 √ 0 , 027 + 3√ −8
3

(4)
Total [12]

Question 2

2.1 When R900 is shared between Cindy and Thato, Cindy gets
R15 for every R35 that Thato gets. Calculate how much each one
gets.
(4)
2.2 A pair of shoes that is marked at R450, 00 is now sold at a discount
of 13%. Determine the selling price.
(3)
2.3 R5 500 is invested at 6% p.a. (per annum) by using simple interest.
Calculate the amount that will be in the bank after 5 years.
(3)
2.4 A car travels for 3 hours at an average speed of 65 km/h. (3)

9
 How far does the car travel?
Total [13]

Question 3

3.1 Study the patterns below and answer the questions

that follows.

Pattern 1
Pattern 2
Pattern 3

3.1.1 Draw the next pattern.

(1)
3.1.2 Redraw and complete the table below.

Pattern 1 2 3 4 13 19
Number
of stars
(2)
3.1.3 Write down the formula that defines the number of stars in a
pattern in the form Tn = …...

(1)
3.2 Subtract 2 x+4 y +z from 4 x+ y+6 z

(3)
3.3 If x = -3 and y = 4 find the numerical value of:

( x+ y )2 −2 xy
(3)

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3.4 Simplify
3.4.1 x7 y 3
x2 y5
(2)
3.4.2 x (2 x −1)−2 x ( x−3 ) 2

(3)
3.4.3 3
14 x y−10 xy 3

−2 xy
(2)
3.4.4
√ 9 x 4+ √16 x 4 −√ 9 x 4 +16 x 4
(4)
Total [21]

Question 4

4.1 Solve for x

4.1.1 3x – 4 = x - 6
(3)
4.1.2 2( x +2)−3( √ x −4 )=8
2
(4)
4.1.3 3 x +1
=−7
2
(4)
4.2 The difference between two numbers is 4 and their sum is 30. Find the (4)
two numbers.

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4.3 Study the flow diagram below and answer the questions that follow.

Input Values Output Values

-2 a

0 b
×2
1 -1
2 c

n2 d

4.3.1 Determine the output values. Write the answers in the table
provided on the diagram sheet.

x -2 0 1 n2
2
y a b c d
(4)
4.3.2 Write the equation that represents the information of the flow
diagram above in the form y=mx−c
(2)
4.3.3 Draw the graph defined by the equation in 4.3.2.,for all real
numbers.
(3)
Total [24]

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Question 5
5.1 Calculate the values of the unknown angles in the diagrams below.
Provide reasons for your answers and show all workings.
5.1.1

50
z 60 0 x
0 (3)
¿^
5.2
In the following diagram S ¿1 = 1200. Calculate the value of x with
reasons.
P Q T
2x

1 2
R S
(4)
5.3 Identify a pair of congruent triangles and a pair of similar triangles from
the triangles given below.

A B

(2)

5.4 Use the triangle PQR provided below to calculate the value of x with (4)

13
 reasons.
P
400

Q 2x R

5.5 Study the diagram below.

A
x

24cm C

6cm

B 8cm D

5.5.1 Calculate the length of BC.

(3)
5.5.2 Calculate the length represented by x .
(3)
Total [19]

Question 6

6.1 Use the diagram below to answer the questions that follow:

19cm
9cm
15cm

8cm
6.1.1 Calculate the perimeter of the diagram. (2)

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 6.1.2 Calculate the area of the diagram.
(3)
6.2 The area of a rectangle is 28cm2 and the perimeter is 22cm.

6.2.1 Calculate the length and the breadth of the rectangle.

(4)
6.3 In the diagram below, AB = 15cm.

12cm

9cm

6.3.1 Calculate the area of the shaded region. Round off your answer
to two decimal places.

(6)
6.4 Use the grid provided on the diagram sheet to reflect the image of figure
about the dotted line.

(1)

6.5 Calculate the maximum litres of water this tank can carry. (3)

15
 Total [19]

Question 7
7.1 The data set represents the mathematics test marks of learners in a Grade
8 class.
65 39 24 83 48 81 54 78 72 62 56 68 100

91 67 58 91 63 55 83 57 84 57 83 58 56

47 59 69 61 55 82 38 49 75 84 95 77 8

7.1.1 Organize the data in a tally/frequency table below

Marks Tally Frequency

0 < x ≤ 20
21 < x ≤ 40
41< x ≤ 60
61 < x ≤ 80
81 < x ≤ 100
Total
(5)
7.1.2 Draw a histogram to represent the data.
(5)
7.1.3 What is the mode of the data?
(1)
7.1.4 Calculate the mean of the data.
(2)
7.1.5 Determine the median of the data. (2)

7.2 Study the chart and answer the questions that follow.

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 Mr Man's monthly Expenditure from
his R10 300,00 net income
7%
10% 24%
Groceries
10% Transport
Rates and Taxes
School Fees
Clothing
15% Savings
Entertainment

20%

7.2.1 Calculate the amount in Rands(R)

that Mr. Man spends on transport.
(2)
7.2.2 Which commodity is the most
expensive? How much money is
spent on this?
(3)
7.2.3 What percentage of his income is
spent on rates and taxes? Calculate
the actual amount spent.
(3)

7.3 In a game of poker a total of 52 playing cards are used. The clubs and spades are black
cards and diamonds and hearts are red cards.

17
7.3.1 Calculate the probability of drawing
an Ace.
(2)
7.3.2 Calculate the probability of drawing
a red Jack.
(2)
Total [27]

TOTAL: 150 marks

18
Diagram Sheet

Name:______________________________ Class:____________

1.1.3

Pietermaritzburg

Johannesburg

Rustenburg
Cape Town

Name of City/Town
Nelspruit
Pretoria

Temperature (in 0C)

3.1.2

Pattern 1 2 3 4 13 19
Numbe
r of
stars

4.3.1

x -2 0 1 n2
2
y a b c d

19
4.3.3

-2 -1 0 1 2 x

-1

6.4

7.1.1.

Marks Tally Frequency

0 < x ≤ 20
21 < x ≤ 40
41< x ≤ 60
61 < x ≤ 80
81 < x ≤ 100
Total

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Section A

Answer Sheet

Name:______________________________ Class:____________

1. A B C D

2. A B C D

3. A B C D

4. A B C D

5. A B C D

6. A B C D

7. A B C D

8. A B C D

9. A B C D

10 A B C D
.
11 A B C D
.
12 A B C D
.
13 A B C D
.
14 A B C D
.
15 A B C D
.

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