Mixed problem solving exercises

Surds
1. Simplify
1 1
+
3√2 + 1 3√2 − 1

2. Simplify

√54𝑎6 𝑏 7
 𝑎
3. Find 𝑎 given that (√2) = 7√2

4. Simplify

√25𝑛 + √16𝑛
√81𝑛3
5. If 𝑥 = √3 and 𝑦 = 2√5, simplify

6 10𝑦
+
7𝑥 𝑥
Give your answer with a rational denominator.
6.
1
a. Rationalise the denominator of
√𝑛+1+√𝑛

1 1 1 1
b. Hence, find + + + ⋯+
√2+√1 √3+√2 √4+√3 √99+√100

7. Solve for 𝑥 if √𝑥 + √𝑥 + √𝑥 = √75

 1 1 𝑥 2 +𝑥 −2
8. If 𝑥 = 2 + 2 √5, simplify .
𝑥−𝑥 −1
9.
2
a. Expand (2 + √7)

b. Hence, simplify √9(11 + 4√7).

10. A large piece of flat pastry is cut in the shape of a right-angled triangle. The longest side is
6b cm and the shortest is 2b cm.
a. Find the length of the third side. Give your answer in exact form.
b. Prove that the area of the triangle is equal to 4𝑏 2 √2 cm2

A smaller piece of pastry is also in the shape of a right angled triangle. It is similar to the

first piece of pastry.

a. The hypotenuse of the smaller piece of pastry is 𝑏√10. What is the scale factor between

the two triangles?

b. By considering the ratio of their areas, find an expression for the area of the smaller
piece of pastry.
Algebra
2𝑥 5𝑦 2𝑥 5𝑦 2𝑥 5𝑦 2
1. Expand and simplify ( 3 − )( 3 − )−(3 + )
2 2 7

2.
a. Expand and simplify (𝑥 + 1)(𝑥 − 1)

b. Hence, expand (𝑥 + 1)3 (𝑥 − 1)3

 1
3. If 𝑥 + 𝑥 = 2,
1
a. Find 𝑥 2 + 𝑥 2

1
b. Hence, find 𝑥 4 + 𝑥 4

4. Expand and simplify (2𝑎 − 3𝑏)(4𝑎2 + 6𝑎𝑏 + 9𝑏 2 )

5.
1 1
a. Expand and simplify the expression ( + 𝑏) ( + 𝑎)
√𝑎 √𝑏

1 2 1 2 15
b. Hence, if 𝑎𝑏 = 4, show that ( + 𝑏) ( + 𝑎) = .
√ 𝑎 √𝑏 2

6. The triangle below is right angled. Its hypotenuse and shorter sides are shown.
a. Show that 𝐵𝐶 = 2𝑡.
b. Hence, find a simplified expression for the area of the triangle.
Measurement
1. Find the surface area of the solid shown.

2. A sphere is sliced to create a hemisphere. The hemisphere has a surface area of 36𝜋.
a. Show that the radius of the hemisphere is 2√3cm.

b. Hence, find the exact surface area of the original sphere.

c. Find the percentage decrease in surface area when the sphere was sliced.
3. A cylinder has radius 𝑟 and height ℎ. Its radius is doubled, and its height is quadrupled.
Show that the surface area of the cylinder increases four-fold (i.e. becomes four-times
bigger).

4. The side length, AB, of the large square is 10 cm. The

midpoint of its sides are taken to form another square, with
side length DC. The process is repeated to form the shaded
square. What is the area of the shaded square?
5. A right-angled triangle is inscribed in a circle of diameter
length d cm as shown in the diagram below.
a. Show that 𝑑 = 4√6 cm

√2
b. Show that the ratio of the area of the triangle to the area of the circle is 6𝜋
6. Concentric circles are circles that share a common centre. A
circle is drawn with a radius of 𝑥 cm. The next circle drawn has a
radius of (𝑥 + 1) cm. This pattern continues until five circles are
drawn. The diagram below shows the 5 concentric circles.
a. What is the radius of the outer circle?

b. If the ratio of the area of the second circle (from the middle) to the outer circle is 4: 9,
find 𝑥.
7. A circular piece of paper has a 90 degree sector removed as shown
in the diagram below. The remaining area is carefully folded to
make the shape of a cone.
a. What is the slant height of this cone?

b. Find an expression for the radius of the base of this cone.

c. Find a simplified expression for the surface area of the cone.

8. A lampshade is formed by slicing off a section of a larger cone as
shown. The slice is made parallel to the base of the original cone.
a. Use similar triangles to find the height of the original cone.

b. Find the slant height of the original cone.

c. Find the surface area of the lampshade.

9. A circular dining table made of cedar timber is inlaid
with glass as shown in the diagram below. The radius
of the glass top is 2r cm with a 20 cm ring of cedar
around it.
a. Show that the area of cedar required to surround
the glass top is 𝐴 = 80𝑟 + 400.

b. If the area of cedar required to surround the glass top is 2000 cm2, find the exact area of
the glass top.
Measurement
1. The diagram shows three similar rectangles. AK has
dimensions 6cm by 9 cm.

a. If the ratio of the area of ACBD to AHJK is 9: 121, find

the length of AD.

b. If the ratio of the area of ABCD to AEFG is also 9: 121, find the shaded area.
2. In the right-angled triangle ABCD, BDEF is a square.
a. If ∠CEF= 𝜃, find an expression for ∠EAD in terms of 𝜃.

b. Prove that ∆𝐶𝐸𝐹 ||| ∆𝐶𝐴𝐵.

c. Find an expression for CF in terms of 𝑥.

d. Hence, find 𝑥.
3. In the diagram, isosceles trapezium ABCD has AB parallel to BD and 𝐴𝐷 = 𝐵𝐶.
a. Prove that triangle ABX is similar to CDX.

b. If AB = 4, BX= 2.5, DC = 8 cm, find

i. AX

ii. DX
4. The area of a quadrilateral is 27𝑘 3 cm2, while the area of a similar quadrilateral is 48𝑘 5 cm2.
Find the ratio of their side lengths.

5. In the diagram, triangles ABX and ACB are similar.

a. What side of triangle ADB corresponds to BC?

b. Find 𝑦

c. Find 𝑥.
6. Two octagons are similar to each other. Their side lengths are 9𝑘 cm and 15k cm
respectively. If the area of the smaller octagon is 45 cm2, find the area of the larger octagon.