Solutions

LGCSE Core Mathematics Β· Paper 1 Β· June 2026

Answers shown first. Click Show workings to see each step.
Non-calculator paper.

1.
(a) 1⁄5 (or 0.2)
(b) 2
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(a) 2⁄5 Γ· 2

Change division to multiplication by the reciprocal:

2⁄5 Γ— 1⁄2

Cancel the common factor of 2:

= 1⁄5

(b) [0.5(10 + 6)] Γ· 4

Brackets first: 10 + 6 = 16

Multiply by 0.5 (same as halving): 0.5 Γ— 16 = 8

Divide by 4: 8 Γ· 4 = 2

2.
17
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Round each number to 1 s.f.:

2.511 β†’ 3

8.71 β†’ 9

7.822 β†’ 8

Substitute into the expression 2.511 Γ— √8.71 + 7.822:

3 Γ— √9 + 8

= 3 Γ— 3 + 8

= 9 + 8

= 17

3.
(a) Three hundred million, two hundred thousand and fifteen
(b) 2 Γ— 105
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(a) 300 200 015 in words:

Three hundred million, two hundred thousand and fifteen.

(b) Expand the components:

300 200 015 = 300 000 000 + 200 000 + 15

3 Γ— 108 = 300 000 000, so b = 200 000

In standard form: 200 000 = 2 Γ— 105

4.
7499
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Any integer from 6500 up to 7499 rounds to 7000 when rounded to 1 s.f.

The highest integer in this range is 7499.

5.
b = 2
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Distance between centres X and Y is 1 + 1 = 2 units.

Distance between centres X and Z is 1 + 1 = 2 units.

Using Pythagoras on the right-angled triangle YXZ:

YZΒ² = XYΒ² + XZΒ² = 2Β² + 2Β² = 8

YZ = √8

The segment YZ passes through P and Q, with YP = 1 and QZ = 1.

PQ = YZ βˆ’ YP βˆ’ QZ = √8 βˆ’ 1 βˆ’ 1 = √8 βˆ’ 2

So b = 2

6.
(a) t(2 + t2)
(b) (x βˆ’ 1)(1 βˆ’ t)
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(a) 2t + t3

Common factor t:

= t(2 + t2)

(b) x + t βˆ’ 1 βˆ’ tx

Group terms: (x βˆ’ 1) βˆ’ t(x βˆ’ 1)

Common factor (x βˆ’ 1):

= (x βˆ’ 1)(1 βˆ’ t)

7.
(a) 5 Γ— 108
(b) 4 Γ— 10βˆ’6 g
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(a) 0.5 billion = 500 000 000

= 5 Γ— 108

(b) Total mass = 2 kg = 2000 g

Mass of one grain = 2000 Γ· (5 Γ— 108)

= 400 Γ— 10βˆ’8

= 4 Γ— 10βˆ’6 g

8.
(a) n = 0.45 (or 9⁄20)
(b) 10 students
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(a) Students playing volleyball only = 18

n = 18 Γ· 40

= 0.45 (or 9⁄20)

(b) Total probability = 1:

0.2 + m + 0.45 + 0.1 = 1

m = 0.25

Number of students = 0.25 Γ— 40 = 10

9.
(a) Shown below
(b) x = 5
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(a) Factorise as a difference of squares:

[(3x βˆ’ y) βˆ’ (x βˆ’ 5)][(3x βˆ’ y) + (x βˆ’ 5)] = 0

= (2x βˆ’ y + 5)(4x βˆ’ y βˆ’ 5) = 0

Since 2x βˆ’ y + 5 = 0, the product is zero, so

4x βˆ’ y βˆ’ 5 = 0 satisfies the equation. ∎

(b) Solve the system:

  1. 2x βˆ’ y = βˆ’5
  2. 4x βˆ’ y = 5

Subtract (1) from (2): 2x = 10

x = 5

10.
l = 4 βˆ’ r βˆ’ Ο€r⁄2
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Total perimeter = 2l + 2r + Ο€r = 8

2l = 8 βˆ’ 2r βˆ’ Ο€r

l = (8 βˆ’ 2r βˆ’ Ο€r) Γ· 2

l = 4 βˆ’ r βˆ’ Ο€r⁄2 ∎

11.
(a) y = 2x + 8
(b) (0.75, 4) or (3⁄4, 4)
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(a) P is the y-intercept of y = 2x βˆ’ 3, so P = (0, βˆ’3).

PQ = 11 units up, so Q = (0, βˆ’3 + 11) = (0, 8)

Parallel lines share gradient m = 2

y = 2x + 8

(b) R is the x-intercept (y = 0): 0 = 2x βˆ’ 3 β†’ R = (1.5, 0)

Midpoint of QR = ((0 + 1.5)/2, (8 + 0)/2)

= (0.75, 4) or (3⁄4, 4)

12.
a = βˆ’3, b = 3
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From equation 2: 2a = 3b βˆ’ 15

Substitute into equation 1:

(3b βˆ’ 15) + 3b = 3

6b = 18 β†’ b = 3

Substitute back:

2a = 3(3) βˆ’ 15 = βˆ’6 β†’ a = βˆ’3

13.
335Β°
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Draw a parallel line through C, extending left.

Interior angle ∠CDE = 55Β° βˆ’ 30Β° = 25Β°

Reflex angle = 360Β° βˆ’ 25Β°

= 335Β°

14.
(a) 54 cmΒ²
(b) 1080 cmΒ³
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(a) Split the T into two rectangles:

Top: 11 Γ— 3 = 33 cmΒ²

Stem: 3 Γ— (10 βˆ’ 3) = 21 cmΒ²

Total = 33 + 21 = 54 cmΒ²

(b) Volume = Cross-section Γ— length

= 54 Γ— 20

= 1080 cmΒ³

15.
(0, 1), (βˆ’2, 1), (1, 4)
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Apply the 90Β° anticlockwise rotation about (2, 0):

(x, y) β†’ (2 βˆ’ (y βˆ’ 0), 0 + (x βˆ’ 2))

= (2 βˆ’ y, x βˆ’ 2)

Original vertices β†’ image vertices:

  • (3, 2) β†’ (0, 1)
  • (3, 4) β†’ (βˆ’2, 1)
  • (6, 1) β†’ (1, 4)
16.
(a) 17 units
(b) 15⁄8 (or 1.875)
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(a) By Pythagoras:

OP = √(8² + 15²)

= √(64 + 225)

= √289

= 17 units

(b) tan ΞΈ = opposite Γ· adjacent

= 15 Γ· 8

= 15⁄8 (or 1.875)

17.
B = 3
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Multiply every term by the LCM (6):

2(x + 2) + 3(x + B) = 5x + 13

2x + 4 + 3x + 3B = 5x + 13

5x + 4 + 3B = 5x + 13

4 + 3B = 13

3B = 9 β†’ B = 3

18.
(a) ( 4   6 ; βˆ’2   βˆ’10 )
(b) ( 3   βˆ’1 ; 0   0 )
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(a) Multiply every entry of A by 2:

2A = ( 4   6 ; βˆ’2   βˆ’10 )

(b) Add corresponding entries:

A + B = ( 3   βˆ’1 ; 0   0 )

19.
(a) 3 Β°C
(b) 0.45 Β°C
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(a) Range = max βˆ’ min

= 2 βˆ’ (βˆ’1)

= 3 Β°C

(b) Mean = Ξ£(fx) Γ· Ξ£f

= [ (βˆ’1 Γ— 6) + (0 Γ— 3) + (1 Γ— 7) + (2 Γ— 4) ] Γ· (6 + 3 + 7 + 4)

= (βˆ’6 + 0 + 7 + 8) Γ· 20

= 9 Γ· 20

= 0.45 Β°C

20.
40 : 35 : 36
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Convert all to decimals:

0.40 : 0.35 : 0.36

Multiply each by 100 to clear:

40 : 35 : 36

21.
168Β°
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Total frequency = 5 + 7 + 3 = 15

Angle = (7 Γ· 15) Γ— 360Β°

= 7 Γ— 24Β°

= 168Β°

22.
16%
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Profit = 754 βˆ’ 650 = M104

Percentage profit = (104 Γ· 650) Γ— 100%

= 16%