Topic 2: Functions and

Graphs

Bronze, Silver, Gold and

Platinum Worksheets for
A Level Mathematics
Teacher Notes
These Bronze, Silver and Gold worksheets are designed to be used either straight after the content
has been taught or as part of a skills gap analysis, especially as students move into year 13.

They are drawn from the latest specification questions and legacy questions. The papers are
between 25 and 35 marks.

The topic number on this worksheet relates to the corresponding chapter number in the ‘Pearson
Edexcel A Level Mathematics: Pure Mathematics Year 2’ textbook.

Non-Calculator Questions
The new specification allows calculators to be used in all papers. We have, however, put these
questions together with the intention that students can complete them without a calculator. It’s
important for pupils to be able to maintain their non-calculator skills, especially on topics such as
surds or indices, to support question that use the keywords “show that” or “prove”. If you wish to
ease the difficulty slightly then you can, of course, allow students to attempt them with the support
of a calculator.

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(Press Ctrl, as you click with your mouse to follow these links)
 Bronze Questions
 Bronze Mark Scheme
 Silver Questions
 Silver Mark Scheme
 Gold Questions
 Gold Mark Scheme

The Platinum Questions below are taken from the Advanced Extension Award. You can use these in
class as high-level problem-solving questions, either with individual students or as group problem
solving exercises. On the Advanced Extension Award students, typically, need to get around 50% to
get a Merit and around 70% to get a distinction.

 Platinum Questions
 Platinum Mark Schemes

Extension and Enrichment

If you have students that have enjoyed the challenge of the Gold questions, then they should have a
go at the more challenging question from our Advanced Extension Award (AEA) papers. The
Mathematics AEA is a single, 3 hour non-calculator paper, taken at the end of year 13. It helps
students to develop high level problem solving and proof skills. It is entirely based on the content of
the A Level Mathematics Course. No extra material needs to be covered to take the AEA in
Mathematics. A second important difference is that marks are awarded for the clarity and quality of
their solution. Developing this key skill, alongside the extra problem-solving experience, can pay
dividends in the way they approach A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics problems.

More information about the Advanced Extension Award can be found here on the Pearson Edexcel
Website, or here on the Maths Emporium
Bronze Questions
Non-calculator
The total mark for this section is 32
Q1

The function f is defined by

(a) Find .
(2)

(b) Show that where a and b are integers to be found.

(3)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

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Q2

(a) Find gg(5).

(2)
(b) State the range of g.
(1)
−1
(c) Find g (x), stating its domain.
(3)

(Total for Question 2 is 6 marks)

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Q3

The function f has domain −2 ≤ x ≤ 6 and is linear from (−2, 10) to (2, 0) and from (2, 0) to
(6, 4). A sketch of the graph of y = f(x) is shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1

(a) Write down the range of f.

(1)
(b) Find ff(0).
(2)

The function g is defined by

(c) Find g−1(x).

(3)
(d) Solve the equation gf(x) = 16.
(5)

(Total for Question 3 is 11 marks)

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Q4

Figure 2 shows a sketch of the curve with the equation

The curve has a turning point at A(3, −4) and also passes through the point (0, 5).
(a) Write down the coordinates of the point to which A is transformed on the curve with
equation

(i) ,

(ii) .
(4)
(b) Sketch the curve with equation

On your sketch show the coordinates of all turning points and the coordinates of the
point at which the curve cuts the y-axis.
(3)
2
The curve with equation y = f(x) is a translation of the curve with equation y = x .
(c) Find f(x).
(2)
(d) Explain why the function f does not have an inverse.
(1)
 (Total for Question 4 is 10 marks)
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End of Questions
Bronze Mark Scheme

Q1
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Silver Questions
Non-calculator

The total mark for this section is 31

Q1

Figure 1

Figure 1 shows part of the graph with equation y = f (x), .

The graph consists of two line segments that meet at the point Q(6, −1).
The graph crosses the y-axis at the point P(0, 11).
Sketch, on separate diagrams, the graphs of
(a) y = |f (x)|
(2)
(b) y = 2f (− x) + 3
(3)

(Total for Question 1 is 5 marks)

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Q2

The function f is defined by

(a) Find f −1(x).

(3)
−1
(b) Find the domain of f (x).
(1)
The function g is defined by

(c) Find fg(x), giving your answer in its simplest form.

(3)
(d) Find the range of fg.
(1)

(Total for Question 2 is 8 marks)

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Q3

The function f is defined by

(a) Sketch the graph with equation y = f(x), showing the coordinates of the points where
the graph cuts or meets the axes.
(2)
(b) Solve f(x) = 15 + x.
(3)
The function g is defined by

(c) Find fg(2).

(2)
(d) Find the range of g.
(3)

(Total for Question 3 is 10 marks)

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Q4
Given that a and b are positive constants,
(a) on separate diagrams, sketch the graph with equation
(i) y = |2x − a|
(ii) y = |2x − a| + b
Show, on each sketch, the coordinates of each point at which the graph crosses or meets the
axes.
(4)
Given that the equation

has a solution at x = 0 and a solution at x = c,

(b) find c in terms of a.
(4)

(Total for Question 4 is 8 marks)

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End of Questions
Silver Mark Scheme

Q1
Q2
Q3
Q4
Gold Questions
Non-calculator

The total mark for this section is 35

Q1

Figure 1 shows the graph of y = f(x), x

The graph consists of two line segments that meet at the point P.
The graph cuts the y-axis at the point Q and the x-axis at the points (–3, 0) and R.
Sketch, on separate diagrams, the graphs of
(a) y = | f (x) |,
(2)
(b) y = f (– x).
(2)
Given that f (x) = 2 – | x + 1 | ,
(c) find the coordinates of the points P, Q and R,
(3)

(d) solve .
(5)

(Total for Question 1 is 12 marks)

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Q2

Figure 1
Figure 1 shows a sketch of part of the graph of y = g(x), where

, x ≥ −2
−1
(a) Find g (x) and state its domain.
(3)
(b) Find the exact value of x for which
g(x) = x
(4)
(c) Hence state the value of a for which
g(a) = g−1(a)
(1)

(Total for Question 2 is 8 marks)

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Q3

Figure 4 shows a sketch of the graph of y = g(x) , where

(a) Find the value of gg(0).

(2)
(b) Find all values of x for which
g(x) > 28
(4)
The function h is defined by
h(x) = (x − 2)2 + 1 x≤2
(c) Explain why h has an inverse but g does not.
(1)
(d) Solve the equation

(3)

(Total for Question 3 is 10 marks)

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Q4

Figure 2 shows a sketch of the graph with equation

y=2|x+4|−5

The vertex of the graph, at point P, is .

(a) Solve the equation

3x + 40 = 2 | x + 4 | − 5
(2)

A line l has equation y = ax, where a is a constant.

Given that l intersects y = 2 | x + 4 | − 5 at least once,

(b) Find the range of possible values of a, writing your answer in set notation.
(3)
(Total for Question 4 is 5 marks)
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End of Questions
Gold Mark Scheme

Q1
Q2
Q3
 Q4
Question Scheme Marks AOs
(a) M1 1.1b

x = 10.6 A1 2.1
(2)
(b) B1 2.2a
a>2
M1 3.1a

A1 2.5
(3)
(7 marks)
Notes:
(a)

M1: Attempts to solve Must reach a value for x.

You may see the attempt crossed out but you can still take this as an attempt to solve the
required equation.

A1: x = 10.6 oe e.g. only. If other values are given, e.g. x = 37 they must be rejected

or the clearly chosen

as their answer. Ignore any attempts to find y.
Alternative by squaring:

M1 for isolating the , squaring both sides and solving the resulting quadratic

A1 for selecting the

Correct answer with no working scores both marks.
(b)
B1: Deduces that a > 2
M1: Attempts to find a value for a using their
Alternatively attempts to solve ax = 2(x + 4) – 5 and ax = 2(x + 4) – 5 to obtain a value
for a.
A1: Correct range in acceptable set notation.
Examples:
Platinum Questions
Non-calculator

The total mark for this section is 28

Q1

The functions f and g are defined by

(a) (i) Explain why fg cannot be formed as a composite function.

(ii) Explain why gf can be formed as a composite function.

(2)
(b) (i) Find gf (x), giving the answer in the form gf (x) = a + bx, where a and b are constants.

(ii) State the domain and range of gf.

(5)
(c) Sketch the graph of the function gf.

On your sketch, you should show the coordinates of any points where the graph meets or
crosses the coordinate axes.
(2)
The circle C with centre (0, −ln 9) touches the line with equation y = gf (x) at precisely one point.

(d) Find an equation of the circle C.

(3)
(+S1)
(Total for Question 1 is 13 marks)
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Q2
The function f is given by

f (x) = for x ∈ ℝ, x ⩾ 0
(a) Find f –1(x) and state the domain of f –1
(2)

The function g is given by

g(x) x2 −4x + 5 for x ∈ ℝ, x ⩾ 0
(b) Find the range of g.
(2)
(c) Solve the equation fg(x) = x.
(3)
(Total for Question 2 is 7 marks)
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Q3
(a) On the same diagram, sketch

Mark clearly the coordinates of the points where these curves cross the coordinate axes.
(3)

(b) Find the x-coordinates of the points of intersection of these two curves.
(5)
(Total for Question 3 is 8 marks)
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End of Questions
Platinum Mark Scheme
Q1
Q2
Q3