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ST MARY’S KARONGA SECONDARY SCHOOL

FORM 4 MATHEMATICS PRACTICE QUESTIONS

1. FACTORISATION
Factorize the following completely.
a. 𝑚 − 25𝑚𝑛2
b. 6𝑟 2 − 28𝑟 − 10
c. 14𝑘 − 8𝑘𝑤 − 7𝑘𝑤 2
d. 2𝑥 2 − 𝑥𝑦 − 15𝑦 2
e. 2(2𝑥 − 1)2 − 18
2. NUMBER BASES
i. Convert the following numbers to base 8.
a. 4367 b. 2324 − 2103
ii. Simplify the following giving the answers in
base 10.
b. 21123 − 2213
c. 4(11023 + 22314 )
d. 42235 − 4215 + 2235
e. 32124 − 3214 − 2234
3. POLYGONS
i. The sum of interior angles of a regular polygon is 1800 0.
Calculate the size of each exterior angle.
ii. Calculate the sum of interior angles of a regular polygon whose
interior angle is 1400.
iii. The interior angle of a regular polygon is 5 times the exterior
angle. Calculate the sum of interior angles of the polygon.

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iv. The interior angle of a regular polygon is 600 more than the
exterior angle. Calculate the number of sides of the polygon.
v. Figure 3 below shows a polygon ABCDE
A

y+40 4y B
E
3y

D C

Figure 1.

4. MAPPING AND FUNCTIONS

Evaluate and solve the following functions.
𝑥−1 2
a. 𝑓(𝑥) = 1 − ( ) , find 𝑓(−2).
2𝑥 3 −5

b. ℎ(𝑥) = 2𝑥 2 − 3𝑐, solve ℎ(−3) = 72.

2
c. 𝑓(𝑥) = 64𝑥 − 8𝑥 − 5, find 𝑓 ( ).
3

d. 𝑔(𝑥) = 3𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 𝑎𝑥, solve for a if 𝑔(2) = 10.

1 𝑥−2
e. ℎ(𝑥) = ( ) , solve ℎ(𝑥) = 4𝑥 .
8

f. 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 4𝑥 + 1, solve 𝑓(2𝑥) = 13.

g. 𝑔(𝑥) = 2𝑥 − 3, 𝑓(𝑥) = 𝑥 2 − 𝑥, solve 𝑓(𝑥) + 𝑔(𝑥) = 3.
9
h. 𝑓(𝑥) = , find a and b if 𝑓(2) = 3 and 𝑓(−4) = −1.
𝑎𝑥+𝑏

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5. IRRATIONAL NUMBERS
Evaluate and solve the following surds to their simplest forms:

5 2 3 √2+2√5
a. 3 b. √ +√ c.
(√2) 3 2 √5−√2

1 √𝑦 2 +12𝑦+36
d. √1 e. f. 4√5𝑥 − 5 = 3𝑥
5 𝑦√2+√72

3√6−√2 2 2 √5 √5
g. h. (√5 − ) i. −
√6+√2 √ 3 1−√5 1+√5

6. CHANGING SUBJECT OF THE FORMULA

Make V subject of the formula in the following equations.
√𝑉 𝑊 𝑦
a. 𝑥− = 2𝑤 b. 𝑥 − 𝑦 = √( 3) c. 𝑝 − 𝑟2 =
𝑦 𝑉 √𝑥𝑉
𝐴 𝑝−𝑥𝑉 𝑉
d. 𝐴𝑦 = 𝑥𝑟 𝑉 e.2log 𝑤 𝑥 − log 𝑤 𝑣 2 = log 𝑤 ( ), f. −𝑎 =
𝑦 𝑦 𝑤
𝑎 𝑉 𝑎 −𝑝𝑦 2𝑉
g. √ = .
𝑚 𝑛

7. ALGEBRIC FRACTIONS
3 4 𝑦 2 −9 𝑦−3
a. − b. ÷
𝑢2 −4 𝑢2 −3𝑢+2 𝑦 2 −𝑦−2 𝑦 2 +𝑦−6

𝑟 2 +𝑟𝑦 𝑟 2 −𝑦2 𝑥 2 −𝑦 2 𝑥+𝑦

c.
𝑟 2 −2𝑟𝑦+𝑦 2 × 𝑟 3 +𝑟 2 𝑦
d.
𝑥 2 +4𝑥𝑦+3𝑦 2
÷
𝑥+3𝑦

𝑦+3 2𝑦−2 1 1
e.
𝑦 2 +3𝑦+2
−
𝑦 2 −1
f. − −1
𝑥 𝑥+2𝑦

4 15 3 𝑚−2 𝑚+3
g. − − h. +
𝑥−5 𝑥 2 −5𝑥 𝑥 𝑚−3 𝑚+2

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8. SIMULTANEOUS EQUATIONS
a. 𝑥2 = 𝑦 + 3 b. 𝑥 − 𝑦 = 3 c. 2𝑥 + 𝑦 = 4
𝑥
2𝑥 − 3𝑦 = 8 𝑥+ =8 𝑥 2 + 𝑥𝑦 + 𝑦 2 = 7
𝑦
1
d. 𝑦−𝑥 =3
3
𝑦 2 − 𝑥 2 = 143

9. QUADRATIC EQUATIONS

i. Solve the following quadratic equations correct to 2 decimal

places.
a. 5𝑥 2 − 𝑥 − 2 = 0 b. 7𝑥 = 3 − 2𝑥 2 c. 12𝑥 − 10 − 3𝑥 2 = 0.
2
ii. Find the quadratic equation whose root are -3 and in the form
3
𝟐
of 𝒂𝒙 + 𝒃𝒙 + 𝒄 = 𝟎.
iii. The sum of the squares of two consecutive odd numbers is 130.
What are the numbers?
iv. Dan is three times as old as Len. The sum of the squares of their
ages is 160. What are their ages?
v. John is 12 year older than Mary, in five years time the product
of their ages will be 160. How old are they now?
vi. James is twice as old as Jane, six years ago the product of their
ages was 20. How old are they now?
vii. Mr. Njinga cycled a distance of 42 km from his village. On his
return journey he increased his speed by 2 km/h and took half
an hour less. Calculate the average speed on the journey from
his village.
viii. A motorist travelled from A to B at speed of 60 km/h, and back
from B to A at a speed of 80 km/h. if the total travelling time is
2 hours 20 minutes, find the distance from A to B.

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ix. A woman drove a distance of 400 km. on the return she drove
20 km/h faster and took two hours less. What was her speed on
the outward journey?
x. A bill at hotel for 𝑛 people, each paying the same amount, is
K288.00. If one of them has no money then the others have to
pay an extra K4.00 each. Find the value of 𝑛.
xi. The members of a club hire a coach for the day for K210.
When seven members withdraw the remaining people who go
on a trip have to pay an extra K1 each. How many people
originally agreed to go?
xii. I have K1200 to spend on oranges. If oranges were to cost K20
less than now, then I could buy two more oranges. How much
does oranges cost now.
xiii. A mini-bus and a lorry left Dedza, at the same time, for Liwonde
a distance of 160 km. The mini-bus was travelling at an average
speed which is 10 km/h faster than the lorry. It arrived at
Liwonde 32 minutes earlier than the lorry. Find the average
speed of the mini-bus.
10. COORDINATE GEOMETRY
i. Find the equations of the following straight lines in form
of 𝒚 = 𝒎𝒙 + 𝒄.
a. through (4, 3) and (5, -11).
1
b. through (1, -6) and a gradient of .
3

c. through (2, -3) and cutting the y-axis at 7.

d. through (3𝑟, 7) and (𝑟, −5) and a gradient 3.
e. through (4, -2) parallel to 3𝑥 − 4𝑦 = 𝑦 − 𝑥 + 7.

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1 2𝑥−1
f. through (-4, 9) parallel to 𝑦 − 7 = .
2 3

i. Find the 𝑥 intercept of a line passing through (1, 5) and

(−3, 7).
ii. The distance between A (3, 5) and B (8, 𝑟) is 13 units. Find
the value of r.

iii. Figure 2 shows a curve and a straight line intersecting at points

A and B. B is a turning point of a curve.
y

𝑦 = 2𝑥 2 − 12𝑥 + 16

𝒙
B

Figure 2.

Find the equation of the line AB in form of 𝑦 = 𝑚𝑥 + 𝑐.

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iv. Figure 3 shows two parallel straight lines AB and DC.

y
A

D (−𝟒, 𝒓)

3r 𝒙
B

C (𝟐𝒓, −𝟒)
Figure 3.
Find the value of r.

11. PROGRESSIONS: AP AND GP.

Work out the following [Link] and [Link].
a. A geometric progression is given by 256, 128, 64………….2.
Find the number of terms of the progression.
b. A Geometric progression has 9 terms, first term 3 and last term
768. Calculate the sum of the first 6 terms.
c. If 𝑥 + 1, 𝑥 + 3 and 𝑥 + 8 are the first three terms of G.P, find
the first term and the common ratio.
d. The sum of the first three terms of A.P is 15 and the 7th term is
4 times the 2nd term. Find the sum of the first 10 terms.
e. The 3rd term of a G.P is 972, and the 8th term is 128. Find the
sum of the first 6 terms.

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12. STATISTICS

Use the table below to construct a histogram, frequency

polygon and to calculate the mean score.
Table 1
score 0-4 5-9 10-14 15-19
Number of students 4 5 15 16

[Link] AND LOGARITHMS

Evaluate and solve the following Exponential and logarithmic

functions.
1 4
1 9𝑦−2 (𝑥− ) ( − 𝑥) 1
a. 25𝑤−2 = b. = 32𝑦−1 c. 9 2 = 27 3 𝒅. log 9 ( )
5 √5 27𝑦 27
3 5
( )𝑎 ( )𝑎 √𝑥 2 𝑦
e. 16 4 ÷8 3 × 4𝑎+1 e. 22r+3−9(2r)=−1 f. 3 log 𝑦 𝑥 + log 𝑦 ( )
𝑥4
log 9√3 log 8+log 128 1
h. i. j. 2 log 3 5 − log 3 4 + log 3 16
log √27 log 2−log 32 2
k. 2log 2 (𝑥 + 3) − 3 = log 2 (𝑥 2 − 9).

14. VECTORS

a. Show that points A (-4,-19), B (-2, -13) and C (2, 5) are

collinear.

b. Given that points P(−1, 4), Q(3, 0) and R(2, 𝒓) are collinear,
find r.

15. POLYNOMIALS

Given that 4𝑥 3 -2𝑎2 𝑥 2 − 𝑥 + 2 is exactly divisible by 2𝑥 − 1,

find a.

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16. TRIGONOMETRY
A ship leaves port X and sails due north to port Y, a distance of
90 km. It then sails due west to port Z. If the bearing of Z from
X is 3280 . Calculate the distance from port X to port Z.

17. GEOMETRIC THEORIES

Figure 4; shows two circles ADC and DBC which intersect at

C and D, chords AC and BC are tangents to the two circles
respectively.

Figure 4.
Show that AC and BC are diameters to the two circles.

18. CHORDS PROPERTIES

a. A chord of a circle of length 16 cm is 6 cm away from the

centre. Calculate the radius of the circle.
b. A chord of a circle of radius 12 cm is 5 cm away from the
centre. Calculate the length of the chord.
c. A chord of a circle of length 15 cm is 10 cm from the centre.
Calculate the length of another chord which is 12 cm from the
centre.
d. AB and DC are two parallel chords that lie on different sides of
the circle. Given that AB=24 cm, DC=30 cm and the radius is 5
cm. How far apart are the two chords.
f. An arc of a circle of length 12 cm subtends an angle of 700 to the
circumference. Calculate the radius of the circle.

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19. PROBABILITY
20. A coin is tossed three times. Use both tree diagram and space table to
calculate the probability of obtaining a head in the last toss regardless
of the outcomes of the first and second tosses.
21. A coin is tossed followed by a die. Use both tree diagram and space
table to calculate the probability of obtaining a tail and a prime number.
22. The probability that a school Library buys books with some pages
missing is 0.8 and the probability that a school library buys books with
invalid information is 0.7. A school library lends two books to a student
at random; use a tree diagram to calculate the probability that the books
contain invalid information.
23. The probability that a student studies is 0.4, the probability that a
student passes exams when he studies is 0.7 and the probability that a
student passes exams when he does not study is 0.2. Draw a tree
diagram and show all the possible outcomes.
24. The probability that team A trains is 0.3 and the probability that team
B wins is 0.6. Use a tree diagram to calculate the probability that team
B wins when team A does not train.
20. SET THEORY
i. Given that n(A)=19 and n(B)=15. If n(A∪B)=25, find n(A∩B).
ii. The universal set 𝜇 = {𝑥: 2 ≤ 𝑥 < 12}, set A={𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑛 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟}
and set B={𝑝𝑟𝑖𝑚𝑒 𝑛𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟}. With the aid of a Venn diagram,
find n(Aˈ∩Bˈ).

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iii. A survey conducted in a village Bank of 50 members in

Karonga shows that 30 women keep chicken, 20 women keep
ducks and 25 keep doves. 6 women keep both chicken and
ducks only, 8 women keep ducks and doves only, 4 women
keep chicken and doves only and 2 women keep neither of the
poultry. If 𝑥 women keep all the poultry:
a. Illustrate the information in a Venn diagram.
b. Use a Venn diagram to find the number of women who keep all
poultry.
c. Calculate the probability of selecting at random women who
keep chicken or doves.
21. VARIATION
29. 𝑥 varies directly as y and z. If 𝑥 = 24, 𝑦 = 2 and z = 3.
a. find the equation connecting y, 𝑥 and z.
b. find z when 𝑥 = 80 and y = 5.

31. A quantiy y is the sum of two variables. The first variable is constant
and the second variable varies inversely as 𝒙. If 𝑦 = 8, 𝑥 = 2 and if
𝑦 = 12, 𝑥 = 3. Find y if 𝑥 = 4.
32. Table 2, show values for y ∝ 𝑥𝑧 2 z
Table 2.
𝒙 2 3 6
𝒚 64 768
𝒛 4 5

Copy and complete the table.

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22. MATRICES

33. Solve the following matrix equations:

6 3 𝑥 12
a. ( ) ( 𝑦) = ( )
2 −3 −4
3𝑥 18 2𝑦 2 5 16
b. ( 2)−( )=( )
4 4𝑦 2 −𝑥 2 19

23. LINEAR PROGRAMMING

A Football club wants to spend K1, 000,000 on balls and pairs of boots.
A ball cost K20000 each and a pair of boots cost K25000 each. The club
requires to buy a minimum of 50 items altogether but must buy at most
thrice as many pairs of boots as balls.
a. Taking 𝑥 to represent the number of balls and y to represent number
of pairs of boots, write down five inequalities involving x and y.
b. using a scale of 2 cm to represent 10 units on both axes, draw the
graphs for the four inequalities by shading the unwanted regions.
c. use the graph to find the maximum number of balls and pairs of
boots a club should buy.

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