Edexcel IGCSE Maths (4MA1) · Unit 4: Graphs & Functions
Real-Life Graphs questions with full solutions for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1), Higher tier. Read the 3 worked examples first, then try the 8 exam-style questions yourself and check your working against the mark scheme.
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A distance–time graph shows a journey of 45 km in 50 minutes at constant speed. Find the speed in km/h.
Answer: 54 km/h
A tangent drawn to a curve at
Answer: 4
Find the average rate of change of
Answer: 5
Try each question before you open the answer (one has its full worked solution open). The mark schemes use Edexcel-style marks: M for method, A for accuracy (after the method mark), B for an independent result.
A distance–time graph shows that a cyclist travels 18 km in 45 minutes at a constant speed. Work out the speed of the cyclist in km/h.
Answer: 24 km/h
Part of a distance–time graph for a walker is a horizontal line from 10:30 to 11:15. (a) What was the walker doing during this time? (b) For how long?
Answer: (a) Not moving (stopped) (b) 45 minutes
A speed–time graph shows a car accelerating at a constant rate from rest to 20 m/s in 8 seconds. Work out the acceleration of the car.
Answer: 2.5 m/s²
A speed–time graph is made of straight lines. A cyclist accelerates at a constant rate from rest to 12 m/s in 6 seconds and then travels at 12 m/s for a further 10 seconds. Work out the total distance travelled in these 16 seconds.
Answer: 156 m
Every question here has a full worked solution. See them all →
Sam drives 90 km from home to a town in 1 hour 30 minutes. He stops in the town for 30 minutes and then drives straight home at a constant speed, taking 1 hour 15 minutes. (a) Work out his speed on the way home. (b) Work out his average speed for the whole time he was away, including the stop. Give your answer to 1 decimal place.
Answer: (a) 72 km/h (b) 55.4 km/h
A train slows down at a constant rate from 30 m/s to rest in 50 seconds. (a) Work out the deceleration. (b) Work out the distance travelled while it slows down.
Answer: (a) 0.6 m/s² (b) 750 m
A speed–time graph is made of straight line segments joining the points (0, 0), (10, 15), (40, 15) and (55, 0), where time is in seconds and speed is in m/s. Work out the total distance travelled.
Answer: 637.5 m
A speed–time graph is made of straight line segments joining (0, 4), (20, 14) and (50, 14), where time is in seconds and speed is in m/s. (a) Work out the total distance travelled in the 50 seconds. (b) Work out the average speed over the 50 seconds.
Answer: (a) 600 m (b) 12 m/s
Every question and worked example here is original, written for IGCSE Math Revision rather than copied from Pearson papers, and each answer was re-solved independently before publishing.
Either Higher tier paper, 1H or 2H, can test real-life graphs: both cover the whole Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1) specification and both allow a calculator. Show your method, because most marks are for working.
In the IGCSE student hub: Unit 4 (Graphs & Functions) has more exam-style questions on this topic, each with a mark scheme. Practice starts with a 7-day free trial; the worked examples and questions on this page are free.
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