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Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) · Topic 1: Number · 1.6

Cambridge IGCSE Maths 0580 The Four Operations Questions

The Four Operations questions with worked answers for Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580). Each question says whether it is Core or Extended and whether it is for a calculator or non-calculator paper. Try each one before you open the answer.

Practise the four operations →The Four Operations notes

What the syllabus asks

Summarised in our own words: check the exact wording in the official 0580 syllabus.

The Four Operations questions: Core

For everyone: Core students (Papers 1 and 3) and Extended students (Papers 2 and 4).

Question 1 Core non-calculator · easy

Work out \(20 - 4 \times 3 + 6 \div 2\).

Show the worked answer
  1. Multiply and divide first: \(4 \times 3 = 12\) and \(6 \div 2 = 3\).
  2. Then add and subtract from left to right: \(20 - 12 + 3 = 11\).

Answer: \(11\)

Question 2 Core non-calculator · easy

At 6 am the temperature was \(-14\) °C. At noon it was \(9\) °C.
By how many degrees did the temperature rise?

Show the worked answer
  1. Rise \(= 9 - (-14) = 9 + 14 = 23\) degrees.

Answer: \(23\) °C

Question 3 Core non-calculator · easy · 2 marks

Work out

(a) \(4.6 \times 0.3\) (b) \(7.2 \div 0.04\)

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • B1 (a) 1.38
  • B1 (b) 180

Answer: (a) \(1.38\) (b) \(180\)

Question 4 Core non-calculator · medium

Work out \(\frac{2}{3} + \frac{3}{4} \div \frac{9}{8}\). Give your answer as a mixed number.

Show the worked answer
  1. Divide first: \(\frac{3}{4} \div \frac{9}{8} = \frac{3}{4} \times \frac{8}{9} = \frac{24}{36} = \frac{2}{3}\).
  2. Then add: \(\frac{2}{3} + \frac{2}{3} = \frac{4}{3} = 1\frac{1}{3}\).

Answer: \(1\frac{1}{3}\)

Question 5 Core non-calculator · medium

Work out
(a) \(3.6 \times 0.25\)
(b) \(4.2 \div 0.06\)

Show the worked answer
  1. (a) \(36 \times 25 = 900\); there are \(3\) decimal places in the question, so \(3.6 \times 0.25 = 0.900 = 0.9\).
  2. (b) Multiply both numbers by \(100\): \(420 \div 6 = 70\).

Answer: (a) \(0.9\) (b) \(70\)

Question 6 Core non-calculator · medium

Work out \(2\frac{1}{4} \times 1\frac{1}{3} - 1\frac{5}{6}\). Give your answer as a mixed number.

Show the worked answer
  1. \(2\frac{1}{4} \times 1\frac{1}{3} = \frac{9}{4} \times \frac{4}{3} = \frac{36}{12} = 3\)
  2. \(3 - 1\frac{5}{6} = 1\frac{1}{6}\)

Answer: \(1\frac{1}{6}\)

Question 7 Core calculator · medium · 2 marks

Work out \((-3)^2 - 4 \times (-2)\).

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • M1 9 and −8 seen
  • A1 17

Answer: \(17\)

Question 8 Core calculator · medium · 3 marks

Work out \(1\frac{3}{4} \times 2\frac{2}{5}\). Give your answer as a mixed number in its simplest form.

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • M1 7/4 × 12/5
  • M1 84/20 or 21/5
  • A1 4 1/5

Answer: \(4\frac{1}{5}\)

Question 9 Core non-calculator · hard

Work out \((-3)^2 - 2 \times (-5) - (-4)\).

Show the worked answer
  1. \((-3)^2 = 9\)
  2. \(2 \times (-5) = -10\), so \(- 2 \times (-5) = +10\)
  3. \(-(-4) = +4\)
  4. \(9 + 10 + 4 = 23\)

Answer: \(23\)

Question 10 Core non-calculator · hard

A tank holds \(240\) litres of water. On Monday \(\frac{3}{8}\) of the water is used. On Tuesday \(\frac{2}{5}\) of the water that is left is used.
How many litres are left at the end of Tuesday?

Show the worked answer
  1. Monday leaves \(\frac{5}{8}\): \(240 \times \frac{5}{8} = 150\) litres.
  2. Tuesday leaves \(\frac{3}{5}\) of that: \(150 \times \frac{3}{5} = 90\) litres.

Answer: \(90\) litres

Examiner Insights: common mistakes in IGCSE Maths 0580, with fixes (our analysis of public sources) →

Every question on this page is original, written for IGCSE Math Revision rather than taken from Cambridge papers, and each answer was re-solved independently before publishing. Questions with a mark scheme come from our 0580 practice bank (M method, A accuracy, B independent marks).

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Questions students ask

Which Cambridge 0580 papers can test the four operations?

The Four Operations is on both tiers (syllabus 1.6), so it can come up on Core Papers 1 (non-calculator) and 3 (calculator), and Extended Papers 2 (non-calculator) and 4 (calculator). Extended candidates also need the Extended parts listed on this page. Half of each tier's marks are on a non-calculator paper, so practise the non-calculator questions without one.

Are these Cambridge past-paper questions?

No. Every question here was written for IGCSE Math Revision in the style of the 0580 papers, and each answer was checked independently before publishing. For real exam practice, use the Cambridge past papers linked from our 0580 past papers page.

Where can I practise more the four operations questions?

In the 0580 practice for topic 1 (Number), where every question is marked and tagged Core or Extended. Practice is part of the IGCSE plan, with a free preview; the questions on this page are free.

More number questions