Edexcel International GCSE Maths Fractions Past Paper Questions and Solutions (4MA1 Higher)

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Edexcel International GCSE Maths A (4MA1) · Higher · Numbers and the Number System

Fractions: Edexcel 4MA1 Past Paper Questions and Worked Solutions

This page collects every fractions question from the Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Mathematics A (4MA1) Higher tier Paper 1H and Paper 1HR, January 2020 to June 2025: 7 questions worth 23 marks. Questions run from easier to harder. Try each one first, then click “Show solution” for a step-by-step method with the reason for every step. All answers are checked against the official Pearson mark schemes.

13 marksHigherJune 2020 · Paper 1HR (4MA1/1HR) · Q1

Show that 33⁄4 × 7⁄9 = 211⁄12

Show solution
  1. Change the mixed number to an improper fraction: 33⁄4 = 15⁄4
  2. Multiply: 15⁄4 × 7⁄9 = 105⁄36
  3. Simplify by dividing top and bottom by 3: 35⁄12
  4. 35 ÷ 12 = 2 remainder 11, so 35⁄12 = 211⁄12

Answer: 15⁄4 × 7⁄9 = 35⁄12 = 211⁄12

23 marksHigherJanuary 2021 · Paper 1HR (4MA1/1HR) · Q1

Show that 31⁄5 × 15⁄6 = 513⁄15

Show solution
  1. Improper fractions: 31⁄5 = 16⁄5 and 15⁄6 = 11⁄6
  2. Multiply: 16⁄5 × 11⁄6 = 176⁄30
  3. Simplify by dividing top and bottom by 2: 88⁄15
  4. 88 ÷ 15 = 5 remainder 13, so 88⁄15 = 513⁄15

Answer: 16⁄5 × 11⁄6 = 88⁄15 = 513⁄15

33 marksHigherJanuary 2020 · Paper 1HR (4MA1/1HR) · Q2

Show that 31⁄5 × 25⁄8 = 82⁄5

Show solution
  1. Improper fractions: 31⁄5 = 16⁄5 and 25⁄8 = 21⁄8
  2. Multiply: 16⁄5 × 21⁄8 = 336⁄40
  3. Simplify (divide top and bottom by 8): 42⁄5
  4. 42 ÷ 5 = 8 remainder 2, so 42⁄5 = 82⁄5

Answer: 16⁄5 × 21⁄8 = 42⁄5 = 82⁄5

43 marksHigherJune 2025 · Paper 1HR (4MA1/1HR) · Q3

Show that 21⁄4 × 15⁄7 = 36⁄7

Show solution
  1. Change to improper fractions: 21⁄4 = 9⁄4 and 15⁄7 = 12⁄7
  2. Multiply the numerators and the denominators: 9⁄4 × 12⁄7 = 108⁄28
  3. Simplify by dividing top and bottom by 4: 108⁄28 = 27⁄7
  4. 27 ÷ 7 = 3 remainder 6, so 27⁄7 = 36⁄7

Answer: 9⁄4 × 12⁄7 = 27⁄7 = 36⁄7

53 marksHigherJune 2024 · Paper 1HR (4MA1/1HR) · Q4

Show that 21⁄3 ÷ 51⁄4 = 4⁄9

Show solution
  1. Change both mixed numbers to improper fractions: 21⁄3 = 7⁄3 and 51⁄4 = 21⁄4
  2. To divide by a fraction, multiply by its reciprocal (flip the second fraction): 7⁄3 × 4⁄21
  3. Simplify before multiplying: 7 and 21 share a factor of 7, so 7⁄3 × 4⁄21 = 1⁄3 × 4⁄3
  4. 1⁄3 × 4⁄3 = 4⁄9

Answer: 7⁄3 × 4⁄21 = 28⁄63 = 4⁄9

63 marksHigherJune 2022 · Paper 1HR (4MA1/1HR) · Q6

Show that 22⁄3 + 33⁄4 = 65⁄12

Show solution
  1. Change to improper fractions: 22⁄3 = 8⁄3 and 33⁄4 = 15⁄4
  2. Use the common denominator 12: 8⁄3 = 32⁄12 and 15⁄4 = 45⁄12
  3. Add: 32⁄12 + 45⁄12 = 77⁄12
  4. 77 ÷ 12 = 6 remainder 5, so 77⁄12 = 65⁄12

Answer: 32⁄12 + 45⁄12 = 77⁄12 = 65⁄12

75 marksHigherJune 2022 · Paper 1H (4MA1/1H) · Q13

Antoine is going on holiday. He makes 3 separate payments to cover the total cost of his holiday. Payment 1 is 3⁄8 of the total cost. Payment 2 is 45% of the total cost. Payment 3 is $406. Work out how much Antoine has to pay for Payment 2.

Show solution
  1. Write 3⁄8 as a decimal: 0.375. Payments 1 and 2 together are 0.375 + 0.45 = 0.825 of the total.
  2. Payment 3 is the rest: 1 − 0.825 = 0.175 of the total = $406
  3. Total cost = 406 ÷ 0.175 = $2320
  4. Payment 2 = 45% of 2320 = 0.45 × 2320

Answer: $1044

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