Numeracy Higher November 2023 Unit 1 Q1
1. Rhodri is organising a 21st birthday party.
Each box is in the shape of a triangular prism.
The cross-section of each box is an isosceles triangle.
The measurements are shown on the diagram below.

Diagram not drawn to scale
You must show all your working. [3]
The volume of this box is at least 20 000 mm3.
Calculate the volume of a confetti box to show that the statement on the label is correct. [3]
| Friar Hall Party night special £105 hall hire charge + £5 per person | Minfelin Lodge Party night special £207 room hire charge + £3 per person |
Rhodri calculates the total cost of organising the party at each venue.
He finds that the total costs are the same.
For how many people is Rhodri planning the 21st birthday party?
You must show all your working. [3]
From the formula list: Volume of prism = area of cross-section × length
| Scheme | Marks | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Correct statement of Pythagoras’ theorem
| M1 | Clear indication that all measurements have been converted to 3cm, 5cm, 4cm may be awarded all marks |
Correct stage of evaluation
| A1 | Working must be seen Allow M1 A1 for a slip in the initial notation then corrected at this evaluation stage |
| (Height =) \(\sqrt{1600}\) (Height = 40 mm) or Height2 = 1600 (Height = 40 mm) or 1600 = 402 (Height = 40 mm) | A1 | Mark final answer A0 for an incorrect statement, e.g. \(\sqrt{1600}\) = 402 |
1(a)(i) Alternative method 1
| Scheme | Marks | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Identifies the relationship ‘3, 4, 5’ and relates to the given (right-angled) triangle, e.g. sight of
| B3 | For B3 there must be an accompanying statement or conclusion B2 for identifying the relationship ‘3, 4, 5’ and relates to the given(right-angled) triangle
|
1(a)(i) Alternative method 2
| Scheme | Marks | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Assuming height as 40mm with use of 50mm or 30mm within a correct statement of Pythagoras’ Theorem, e.g.
| M1 | Clear indication that all measurements have been converted to 3cm, 5cm, 4cm may be awarded all marks |
Correct stage of evaluation, e.g.
| A1 | Working must be seen |
Appropriate full evaluation, e.g.
| A1 | Mark final answer |
| Scheme | Marks | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| (ii) (Volume) ½ × 60 × 40 × 20 or equivalent | M2 | M1 for sight of area of X-section possibly in stages, ½×60×40 or ½×30×40 + ½×30×40 (= 1200 mm2) |
| 24 000 (mm3) (> 20 000 mm3) | A1 | CAO |
Corrected by Westie's Workshop
- The board's mark scheme printed “(hypotenuse =) ( ½ base =) \(\sqrt{2500}\)”. Changed to “(hypotenuse =) \(\sqrt{2500}\)” because the square root of 2500 is the hypotenuse (50 mm), not half the base (30 mm), so the extra “( ½ base =)” was removed.
Original: see the board's mark scheme PDF (link above).
| Scheme | Marks | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Sight of or implication that: 5 × number of people + 105 = 207 + 3 × number of people or 5x + 105 = 207 + 3x | M1 | Implication includes attempt to balance costing for the same number of people ≥ 3 at each venue, e.g.
|
| (5 – 3) × number of people = 207 – 105 or number of people = \(\frac{207-105}{5-3}\) or 5x – 3x = 207 – 105 or 2x = 102 | m1 | Includes correctly evaluated trial to attempt to balance costing for the same number of people at each venue provided ‘their trial for 30 ≤ the number of people ≤ 70’, e.g. correct costing for both venues for 40 people as (FH) (£)305 and (ML) (£)327 From M1, allow 1 slip in the rearrangement of ‘their equation’ provided ‘their equation’ is then simplified to ax = b, where a ≠ 0 and b ≠ 0 Sight of cost (£)360 for each venue implies M1 m1 |
| 51 (people) | A1 | CAO If no marks, award SC1 for finding the number of (whole) people for the same cost at each venue, provided the cost is > (£) 220, e.g. |