
© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2023 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 12.
Show answer
| Answer | 111 miles | 2 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Distance speed time
miles
Watch out: Dividing 37 by 3 instead of multiplying.
Ratio, proportion and rates of change
41 past-paper questions, easiest first. Try each one, then reveal the answer.
Revision guide by The Full Marks
A compound measure combines two units, like speed (km per hour), density (g per cm³) or pressure (newtons per m²). Questions test whether you can pick the right formula, rearrange it and keep the units consistent.
Example 1 Foundation · grade 4
Owen cycles km in hour minutes. Work out his average speed in km/h.
minutes hours, so the time is hours.
Speed
Answer: km/h
Example 2 Higher · grade 6
of liquid A (density g/cm³) is mixed with of liquid B (density g/cm³). Find the density of the mixture.
Mass of A g
Mass of B g
Total mass g, total volume
Density g/cm³
Density = mass ÷ volume. If mass is in grams and volume in cm³, density is in g/cm³.
Divide the total distance by the total time taken, with the time in hours if you want km/h or mph.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2023 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 12.
| Answer | 111 miles | 2 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Distance speed time
miles
Watch out: Dividing 37 by 3 instead of multiplying.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2023 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 16.
| Answer | 98 km | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
45 minutes hours, so the time is hours.
Distance = speed × time km
Watch out: Using 1.45 hours for 1 hour 45 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2022 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 14.
| (a) | miles | 2 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | km | 3 marks |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) Distance = speed × time miles
(b) Real length cm
m, and km
Watch out: In (a), using 1.30 hours as the time.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2022 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 16.
| (a) | 08 45 | 3 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | He will arrive earlier | 1 mark |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) Time hours
, so 1 hour 15 minutes.
07 30 + 1 h 15 min = 08 45
(b) Going faster over the same distance takes less time, so he arrives earlier.
Watch out: Treating 1.25 hours as 1 hour 25 minutes, giving 08 55.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2019 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 9.
| (a) | 6 miles | 2 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | 12 35 pm | 2 marks |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) 9 am to 10 30 am is 1.5 hours.
Distance miles
(b) Leaves library: 10 30 + 50 min = 11 20 am
hours is 1 hour 15 minutes: 11 20 + 1 h 15 min = 12 35 pm
Watch out: Treating 1 hour 30 minutes as 1.3 hours, or hours as 1 hour 25 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2019 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 10.
| Answer | 16:35 (4:35 pm) | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Minutes parked: minutes
minutes hours minutes
Watch out: Treating 5.83 hours as 5 hours 83 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2018 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 9.
| (a) | mph | 2 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | miles | 2 marks |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) Speed mph
(b) Distance speed time miles
Watch out: Multiplying instead of dividing in (a).

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2024 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 14.
| (a) | km/h | 2 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | Yes: total time is 5 hours 15 minutes, which is less than 5 hours 20 minutes | 3 marks |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) Speed km/h
(b) Tuesday time hours h min
Total h h min h min
h min h min, so Lizzie is correct.
Watch out: Treating 2.25 hours as 2 hours 25 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2024 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 22.
| (a) | minutes | 3 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | Overestimate: distance rounded up and speed rounded down | 1 mark |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) Round: miles, mph
Time hour minutes
(b) The distance was rounded up and the speed rounded down, so the estimate is too big: an overestimate.
Watch out: In (a), leaving the answer as 0.17 hours or 1/6.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2023 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 17.
| Answer | No: the Australian rate is about £14.70 an hour, less than £14.79 in the UK | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
UK hourly pay:
Australian hourly pay in pounds:
, so no, Blake is not correct.
Watch out: Multiplying by 1.796 instead of dividing when changing dollars to pounds.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2023 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 26.
| Answer | 7 hours 56 minutes | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Car time hours hours 36 minutes ().
Total h 36 min h 20 min hours 56 minutes
Watch out: Reading 2.6 hours as 2 hours 60 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2023 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 25.
| Answer | 65 | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Seconds:
Seconds in a day:
, so days
Watch out: Dividing by 60 only once or twice instead of converting fully to days.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2023 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 27.
| Answer | 648 | 2 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Mass = density × volume
g
Watch out: Dividing 72 by 9 to get 8.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2020 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 24.
| Answer | 2 hours 45 minutes | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Cycling: h
Running: h
Total: h hours minutes
Watch out: Writing 2.75 hours as 2 hours 75 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2019 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 27.
| Answer | 50 mph | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Time: 13 30 to 14 48 is 1 hour 18 minutes minutes.
In hours:
Speed mph
Watch out: Using 1.18 hours for 1 hour 18 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2018 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 24.
| (a) | 2 minutes 48 seconds | 3 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | It would take less time than the answer to (a) | 1 mark |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) 1 min 54 s s
Time s
s minutes seconds
(b) If she speeds up over a longer race, she will finish more quickly, so the real time is less than 2 min 48 s.
Watch out: Treating 1 minute 54 seconds as 1.54 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. Specimen Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 21.
| Answer | m² | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
, so .
m²
Watch out: Multiplying 140 × 35 instead of dividing.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2024 Paper 1 (Higher, non-calculator), question 8.
| Answer | m | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Area
Length m
Watch out: Multiplying 720 by 80 instead of dividing.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2024 Paper 2 (Foundation, calculator), question 28.
| Answer | 7.96 | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Volume
Density
(3 s.f.)
Watch out: Using or diameter instead of radius squared.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2023 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 25.
| Answer | 2.7 g/cm³ | 2 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Density = mass ÷ volume
g/cm³
Watch out: Multiplying to get 270.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2023 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 27.
| Answer | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Volume = base area × height, so base area cm²
Pressure newtons/cm²
Watch out: Dividing 90 by 1200 without finding the base area.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2023 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 27.
| Answer | Face area 144 cm², so surface area cm² | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Area of face on the table cm²
A cube has 6 equal faces: cm²
, so the surface area is less than 900 cm².
Watch out: Multiplying force by pressure instead of dividing.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2022 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 25.
| Answer | N/m | 2 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Area
Pressure N/m
Watch out: Dividing by the perimeter or by 4 + 2.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2022 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 29.
| Answer | 3 : 2 | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Volumes: cm³ and cm³
Densities: g/cm³ and g/cm³
Ratio:
Watch out: Using side length times 6 or squaring instead of cubing.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2022 Paper 2 (Higher, calculator), question 9.
| Answer | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Area
Area , so
Watch out: Multiplying force by pressure instead of dividing.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2022 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 27.
| Answer | 10 | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Stage 1: miles
Stage 2: miles
Total = 7.5 miles
Amy: mph
Watch out: Using 45 hours instead of 0.75 hours, or averaging the two speeds.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2022 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 29.
| Answer | 108 | 2 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
In one hour: metres
km/h
Watch out: Multiplying by 60 only once, giving 1.8 km/h.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2021 Paper 2 (Higher, calculator), question 7.
| Answer | g/cm³ | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Mass of A g. Mass of B g.
Total mass g, total volume cm³.
Density g/cm³.
Watch out: Averaging the two densities to get 1.5, ignoring the different volumes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2021 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 24.
| Answer | 260 minutes | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Company A: 1 min 40 s min, so the rate is litres per minute.
Time A min.
Company B: litres per minute.
Time B min.
Difference , about 260 minutes.
Watch out: Treating 1 minute 40 seconds as 1.4 minutes.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2020 Paper 1 (Foundation, non-calculator), question 27.
| Answer | 450 newtons | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Base area .
Force pressure area N.
Watch out: Using the volume in place of the area: .

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2020 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 29.
| Answer | 96 g | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Triangle area: cm²
Volume: cm³
Mass: g
Watch out: Forgetting to halve for the triangle, giving 192 g.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2019 Paper 1 (Higher, non-calculator), question 9.
| (a) | km | 2 marks |
|---|---|---|
| (b) | No: 72 km/h is exactly 20 m/s | 2 marks |
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
(a) 18 minutes hours
Distance km
(b) km/h m in s
m/s. The speeds are the same, so David is not correct.
Watch out: Using 18 as the time in hours, or dividing by 60 twice.

© Pearson Education Ltd. Specimen Paper 1 (Higher, non-calculator), question 2.
| Answer | m² | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Rearrange to .
The area is m².
Watch out: Multiplying 140 by 35 instead of dividing, or leaving out the units.

© Pearson Education Ltd. Specimen Paper 1 (Higher, non-calculator), question 12.
| Answer | No: the average speed is mph | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
First part: miles.
Second part: hours.
Total: miles in hours.
Average speed mph, so Sean is wrong.
Watch out: Averaging the two speeds to get 40 mph.

© Pearson Education Ltd. Specimen Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 28.
| Answer | 1.0625 g/cm³ | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Density of B is 1.1 g/cm³, so density of A g/cm³.
Mass of C g.
Density of C g/cm³.
Watch out: Averaging the two densities (1.025) without weighting by volume.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2024 Paper 3 (Foundation, calculator), question 26.
| Answer | g/cm³ | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Volume of tin cm³
Volume of salt cm³
Density of salt g/cm³
Watch out: Using 700 cm³ as the volume of salt.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2024 Paper 2 (Higher, calculator), question 12.
| Answer | 5 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Cylinder volume cm³
Mass g
Cube volume cm³
Watch out: Multiplying by the density to get the cube's volume instead of dividing.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2020 Paper 1 (Higher, non-calculator), question 13.
| Answer | 196 kg/m³ | 3 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Volume of A
Mass of B kg
Density of C
Watch out: Adding the two densities, or averaging them to get 175.

© Pearson Education Ltd. June 2019 Paper 3 (Higher, calculator), question 13.
| Answer | g/cm³ | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Work per cm³ scaled by litres (the conversion factor cancels):
Ethanol:
Propylene:
Density g/cm³
Watch out: Averaging the two densities (1.03) without weighting by volume.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2019 Paper 3 (Higher, calculator), question 13.
| Answer | g | 4 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Volume cm³
A: cm³, mass g
B: cm³, mass g
Total g
Watch out: Averaging the two densities instead of weighting them by the ratio.

© Pearson Education Ltd. November 2022 Paper 3 (Higher, calculator), question 25.
| Answer | 14.1% | 5 marks |
|---|
Worked solution Checked against the mark scheme
Top volume:
Total mass: g
Total volume:
Percentage:
Watch out: Using only the bottom part's mass with the average density.
Their main topic is different, but part of each one tests this topic.