Functional QuestionFoundation(Algebra 9)

For the week beginning ….

The table shows UK postal rates.

  Weight First Class Second Class

Letter 0 —100g £0.34 £0.24

  0 —100g £0.48 £0.40

Large Letter101—250g £0.70 £0.60

  251—500g £0.98 £0.83

  501—750g £1.42 £1.20

  0 —100g £1.09 £0.92

  101—250g £1.38 £1.20

  251—500g £1.84 £1.52

Packet 501—750g £2.38 £1.92

  751—1000g £2.92 £2.30

  1001—1250g £4.25Please note items

 Each additional

250 g or part thereof+ £0.75

heavier than 1000 gcannot be sentSecond Class

(a)     What is the cost of sending a 225 g large letter using First Class? (1)

(b)     What is the weight of the heaviest item that can be sent Second Class? (1)

(c)     A packet weighs 1.3 kg.          How much does it cost to send it using First Class? (3)(Total 5 marks) 

(a)     (£) 0.70 (p)Or equivalentAccept 70 pB1 - Marks awarded independent of method

(b)     1000 g1 kgB1 - Marks awarded independent of method

(c)     1300 seen or usedeg, sight of £4.25M1 – Method mark

          4.25 + 0.75M1 – method mark

          (£) 5SC1 for (£)1.38A1 - Accuracy marks are awarded when following on from a correct method[5] 

Common Mistakes – what did the examiners say?

The first two parts of this question proved to be a good starter for most candidates. However, in part (c), many showed 4.25 but incorrectly added 1.09. A significant number did not know that 1 kg = 1000 g and gave 1.38 as the answer or 0.70 using Large Letter (101 – 250 g).