Student name: Teacher:

Pure mathematics
81
02 Surds and indices
Comments

1 Evaluate 𝑥

Circle your answer.

[1 mark]
0 1 𝑥 24 I can’t do this unless you tell me what 𝑥 is

2 Decide which of these statements are true and which are false. The first one has been done for you.
[14 marks]

1 1
Statement 2>3 2 <3 10 = 5 = 2 <3
20 5

True
False 

1
Statement =3 (7 ) = 7 (7 ) = 7 (−3) = 27 2 =2
3

True
False

2 1 .
𝜋 1 5 𝑥
Statement 2 = 𝑥 ÷𝑥 = 4 =2 = =−
8 𝑥 𝜋 . 𝜋 𝑥 25

True
False

3 Circle the two expressions that are equivalent to (4ℎ )

[1 mark]
− ℎ −8ℎ 16ℎ
4 Evaluate
[4 marks]
×
(a) 1 (b)

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5 Express each of the following in as simple a form as possible

[12 marks]

(a) (3𝑗 ) (b) 𝑞

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(c) (𝑝 𝑞 𝑟 ) (d) (4𝑚 ) × 8𝑚

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(e) (5𝑎 𝑐 ) ÷ (2𝑎 𝑐 ) (f) (3𝑥 𝑦) ÷ (4𝑥𝑦)

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6 An athlete runs 2 × 10 km in 6.5 × 10 hours. Work out her average speed in km h

[2 marks]

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√
7 Consider the fraction . Tick all of the statement(s) that are true
√
[2 marks]
 It can be expressed as a fraction with a rational denominator
 It is an irrational number
 It is equal to −1

8 Simplify the following

[8 marks]
(a) 20√5 + 5√20 (b) √48 + √24 − √75 + √96
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√
(c) (d) √54 ÷ √6
√

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9 Show that
[4 marks]
√ √
(a) is rational. (b) is an integer.
√

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10 Expand and simplify √𝑥 − 3

[2 marks]

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11 Write 𝑦 in the form 𝑦 where 𝑘 is a fraction.

[2 marks]

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12 Simplify the following

[8 marks]
(a) 5 − √2 5 + √2 (b) 2√6 − 3√3 2√6 + 3√3
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(c) 2√ 2 − 1 (d) 1 + √2 2√2 − 1 hint: use part (c)

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√
13 Circle the expression(s) that are equivalent to
√
[1 mark]

√ √ √
√ √

√
14 Circle the expression(s) that are equivalent to
√
[1 marks]

√
2 + √3 − 2√2 − √6 5 2√2 + √6 − √3 − 2
15 Rationalise the denominator where 𝑎 is a positive integer
[3 marks]
4 + √𝑎
√7 − √𝑎
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16 Simplify the following, giving your answer in the form 𝑘√3

[4 marks]
√
(a) + (b) 3 − √3 2 − √3 − √3 × √27
√ √

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17 Find the values of 𝑎 and 𝑏 in

[4 marks]
(a) √3 − 1 √𝑎 + 𝑏 ≡ 2 (b) √6 − √2 √𝑎 + √𝑏 ≡ 4
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18 Find the length of the third side in each of these right angled triangles. Give your answer as a simplified surd.
[4 marks]
(a) (b)

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19 Express the following in the form 𝑘 √3

[4 marks]

(a) √81 + √3 (b) √3

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