GRADE 8 & O LEVEL MATHEMATICS

PRACTICE HOMEWORK 1
Square, Cube and 𝑛th Roots
Numerical Manipulation of Radicals

Instructions
1. Answer all questions. The total is exactly 100 marks.

2. Do not use a calculator unless your teacher gives permission.

3. Show all necessary working for Questions 2–5.

4. Give exact answers in simplest radical form; do not use decimal approximations unless the question
itself contains a terminating decimal.

5. Simplify roots before adding or subtracting them.

6. A square-root sign gives the principal non-negative root.

Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 1: Exact Values and Meaning of Roots 20 marks

Answer each part. Each part carries 1 mark.
1(a)–(p): Evaluate exactly
√ √
(a) 144 [1] (i) 196 [1]
√ √
(b) 0.81 [1] (j) 400 [1]
√3
(c) 216 [1] √3
(k) 1000 [1]
√3
(d) −343 [1] √4
√4 (l) 625 [1]
(e) 81 [1]
√
√5 (m) 2.25 [1]
(f) −32 [1]
√3
√︂
49 (n) 0.008 [1]
(g) [1] √
121
(o) 1 [1]
√︂
3 −8 √3
(h) [1] (p) 0 [1]
125
1(q)–(t): Meaning and signs
√
(q) State the principal value of 169. [1]
√
(r) Does −36 have a real value? Write yes or no. [1]
√3
(s) Is the odd root −64 positive or negative? [1]

(t) Write both real numbers whose square is 81. [1]

Answer space

Name: Page 2
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 2: Simplifying Roots 24 marks

Write every answer in simplest radical form. Show the perfect-power factor that you extract. Each part
carries 3 marks.
2(a)–(d)
√
(a) Simplify 12. [3]

√
(b) Simplify 18. [3]

√
(c) Simplify 45. [3]

√
(d) Simplify 72. [3]

Name: Page 3
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 2 continued 12 marks

2(e)–(h)
√
(e) Simplify 98. [3]

√
(f) Simplify 180. [3]

√3
(g) Simplify 54. [3]

√3
(h) Simplify 250. [3]

Check before moving on

For a square root, no perfect-square factor should remain inside the radical. For a cube root, no
perfect-cube factor should remain inside the radical.

Name: Page 4
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 3: Addition and Subtraction of Roots 20 marks

Simplify each root first, then collect like radicals. Each part carries 4 marks.
3(a)–(c)
√ √
(a) Simplify 2 8 + 3 18. [4]

√ √
(b) Simplify 5 12 − 75. [4]

√ √ √
(c) Simplify 50 + 8 − 18. [4]

Name: Page 5
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 3 continued 8 marks

3(d)–(e)
√ √ √
(d) Simplify 3 27 − 2 12 + 3. [4]

√3 √3
(e) Simplify 4 16 − 54. [4]

Reminder
Only roots with the same index and the same simplified radicand are like roots.

Name: Page 6
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 4: Multiplication and Division of Roots 20 marks

Use numerical root laws and simplify fully. No algebraic expansion formula is needed. Each part carries
4 marks.
4(a)–(c)
√ √
(a) Simplify 12 × 3. [4]

√ √
(b) Simplify 14 × 21. [4]

√ √
(c) Simplify (3 5)(2 15). [4]

Name: Page 7
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 4 continued 8 marks

4(d)–(e)
√
72
(d) Simplify √ . [4]
2

√
6 15
(e) Simplify √ . [4]
3 5

Numerical-law check
When multiplying roots with the same index, multiply their radicands. When dividing roots with the
same index, divide their radicands. Simplify the result.

Name: Page 8
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 5: Mixed Numerical Manipulation 16 marks

Show clear steps. Each part carries 4 marks.
5(a)–(d)
√ √ √
(a) Simplify 2 50 − 3 8 + 18. [4]

√ √
(b) Calculate exactly 12 × 27. [4]

√ √
4 27 − 48
(c) Simplify √ . [4]
3

5
(d) Rationalise the denominator of √ and simplify. [4]
3

End of Test 1 Total: 100 marks

Name: Page 9
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Teacher Mark Scheme: Test 1 /100

Marking notation
M = method mark; A = accuracy mark. Accept any equivalent exact form unless the question
specifically asks for simplest radical form. Do not penalise a correct alternative method.

Question 1: 20 marks
One mark for each correct response

(a) 12 (f) −2 (k) 10 (p) 0

7
(b) 0.9 (g) (l) 5 (q) 13
11
(c) 6 2 (m) 1.5 (r) No
(h) −
5
(d) −7 (i) 14 (n) 0.2 (s) Negative

(e) 3 (j) 20 (o) 1 (t) 9, −9

Question 2: 24 marks
For each part: 1 mark for identifying a useful perfect-power factor, 1 mark for extracting it correctly, and 1
mark for the simplified answer.
Answers and essential working

Part Working Answer

√ √ √ √
(a) 12 = 4 × 3 = 2 3 2 3
√ √ √ √
(b) 18 = 9 × 2 = 3 2 3 2
√ √ √ √
(c) 45 = 9 × 5 = 3 5 3 5
√ √ √ √
(d) 72 = 36 × 2 = 6 2 6 2
√ √ √ √
(e) 98 = 49 × 2 = 7 2 7 2
√ √ √ √
(f) 180 = 36 × 5 = 6 5 6 5
√3 √3 √3 √3
(g) 54 = 27 × 2 = 3 2 3 2
√3 √3 √3 √3
(h) 250 = 125 × 2 = 5 2 5 2

Name: Page 10
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Teacher Mark Scheme continued

Question 3: 20 marks
Award method marks for correctly simplifying the required roots, one mark for collecting coefficients, and
the final accuracy mark.
Answers and working

√ √ √ √ √
(a) 2 8 + 3 18 = 4 2 + 9 2 = 13 2 ,
√ √ √ √ √
(b) 5 12 − 75 = 10 3 − 5 3 = 5 3 ,
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
(c) 50 + 8 − 18 = 5 2 + 2 2 − 3 2 = 4 2 ,
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
(d) 3 27 − 2 12 + 3 = 9 3 − 4 3 + 3 = 6 3 ,
√3 √3 √3 √3 √3
(e) 4 16 − 54 = 8 2 − 3 2 = 5 2 .

Question 4: 20 marks
For each part, award marks for applying the root law, carrying out the numerical product or quotient,
simplifying, and the correct final answer.
Answers and working

√ √ √
(a) 12 3 = 36 = 6 ,
√ √ √ √ √
(b) 14 21 = 294 = 49 × 6 = 7 6 ,
√ √ √ √ √
(c) (3 5)(2 15) = 6 75 = 6(5 3) = 30 3 ,
√
72 √
(d) √ = 36 = 6 ,
2
√
6 15 √ √
(e) √ =2 3= 2 3.
3 5

Name: Page 11
Grade 8 & O Level Mathematics Test 1 Roots and Radicals

Question 5: 16 marks
Answers and working

√ √ √ √ √ √ √
(a) 2 50 − 3 8 + 18 = 10 2 − 6 2 + 3 2 = 7 2 ,
√ √ √
(b) 12 27 = 324 = 18 ,
√ √ √ √ √
4 27 − 48 12 3 − 4 3 8 3
(c) √ = √ = √ = 8,
3 3 3
√ √
5 5 3 5 3
(d) √ = √ · √ = .
3 3 3 3

Class record

Class average: /100 Highest score: /100

Most secure skill: Revision priority:

Name: Page 12