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Growth and decay - Exam Questions.docx

Built from the lesson script on 30 September 2026.

EDEXCEL GCSE MATHS · FOUNDATION & HIGHER

Exam Practice: Growth and Decay

Growth and decay · Multiplicative reasoning · Lesson 1 of 4 · 19 marks · 30 minutes

Name

Date

 

Instructions

• Answer all the questions.

• Write your answers in the spaces provided.

• The marks for each question are shown in brackets - use this as a guide to how much to write.

• The answers are on separate pages at the back. Attempt every question before you look at them.

• Answer all questions. Show your working.

Question 1 CALCULATOR (3 marks)

£5000 is invested at 3% compound interest per year. Work out the value of the investment after 4 years. Give your answer to the nearest penny.

(Total for Question 1 = 3 marks)

Question 2 CALCULATOR (3 marks)

A car is worth £12 000. Its value falls by 15% each year. Work out its value after 3 years.

(Total for Question 2 = 3 marks)

Question 3 CALCULATOR (3 marks)

A culture has 500 bacteria. The number increases by 20% every hour. Work out the number of bacteria after 6 hours. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

(Total for Question 3 = 3 marks)

Question 4 CALCULATOR (4 marks)

The graph shows the number of bacteria in a culture, N, after t hours. The graph is a curve. (a) Use the graph to estimate the number of bacteria after 3.5 hours. (b) Use the graph to estimate the time when there are 200 bacteria.

(Total for Question 4 = 4 marks)

Question 5 NON-CALCULATOR (3 marks)

A radioactive sample has a mass of 80 g. Its mass halves every 10 days. Work out its mass after 30 days.

(Total for Question 5 = 3 marks)

Question 6 CALCULATOR (3 marks)

The population of a town is 2000. It decreases by 5% each year. Work out the population after 10 years. Give your answer to the nearest whole number.

(Total for Question 6 = 3 marks)

TOTAL FOR PAPER = 19 MARKS

 

Answers and mark scheme

Check your answer only once you have written one.

Question 1 (3 marks)

5000 × 1.03⁴ = 5627.54.

• Multiplier 1.03 M1

• 5000 × 1.03⁴ M1

• 5627.54 A1

Question 2 (3 marks)

12 000 × 0.85³ = 7369.50, so £7369.50.

• Multiplier 0.85 M1

• 12 000 × 0.85³ M1

• 7369.50 A1

Question 3 (3 marks)

500 × 1.2⁶ = 1492.99, so 1493.

• Multiplier 1.2 M1

• 500 × 1.2⁶ M1

• 1493 A1

Question 4 (4 marks)

(a) About 190 (accept 185 to 195). (b) About 3.8 hours (accept 3.7 to 3.9).

• (a) Reading at t = 3.5 M1

• (a) 190 (185 to 195) A1

• (b) Reading at N = 200 M1

• (b) 3.8 (3.7 to 3.9) A1

Question 5 (3 marks)

30 days is 3 halvings, so 80 × 0.5³ = 10 g.

• 3 halvings M1

• 80 × ⅛ M1

• 10 A1

Question 6 (3 marks)

2000 × 0.95¹⁰ = 1197.47, so 1197.

• Multiplier 0.95 M1

• 2000 × 0.95¹⁰ M1

• 1197 A1