Level 5-6 Algebra - Expressions

1. Peter has a number of brothers (let's call the number 'x') and John has two brothers more than Peter. How would you write the number of brothers that John has?

   • 2x
   • -2x
   • x - 2
   • x + 2

2. There are y number of students in a class. If seven of the students are away ill, how would you write the number of students still attending class?

   • 2y
   • 7 - y
   • y - 7
   • y + 7

3. In the first three football matches of the season James scored x goals. In the fourth match James scored two goals and in the fifth match he scored one goal. How would you write the total number of goals that James scored?

   • 12x
   • 2x + 1
   • x + 2 + 1
   • x + x + x

4. There were x pens in the cupboard. Paula took out three pens, John took out two pens and Pamela put seven pens back into the cupboard. How would you write the number of pens now in the cupboard?

   • 2x + 3x
   • x - 3 - 2 + 7
   • x + 3 + 2 - 7
   • x + 3 + 2 + 7

5. On a chess board there are eight squares across and eight squares down. Which of these would be the best way of writing the number of squares?

   • 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8 + 8
   • 8 x 8 x 8 x 8
   • 8²
   • 8x

6. There are x number of chess boards at the school chess club. What is the total number of squares on all the boards?

   • 64x
   • 64 - x
   • 64 + x
   • It is impossible to say

7. Joseph has x rabbits and Sam has three more rabbits than Joseph. How many rabbits have they between them?

   • 3x
   • x + 3
   • x + x + 3
   • x + x - 3

8. Five people each start the day with x sweets. During the day, each of them eat two of their sweets. What is the total number of sweets that have not been eaten at the end of the day?

   • 5(x - 2)
   • 5 - x
   • 10 - x
   • x - 10

9. Solution a boils at x degrees centigrade. Solution b has a boiling point five degrees higher than solution a. Solution c has a boiling point 25 degrees higher than solution b. How would you express the boiling point of solution c?

   • x + 5 + 25
   • x + b + c
   • x + y + z
   • xyz

10. It takes a person five minutes to pick a sack of potatoes. How long will it take z people to pick 20 sacks of potatoes? Give your answer in minutes.

    • 20 + z minutes
    • 20 x 5 / z minutes
    • 20z minutes
    • z - 20 minutes

Quiz written by Colin King