WAEC Past Questions

WAEC Mathematics 2020
Questions & Answers

40 questions · Correct answers highlighted · 40 with explanations

40 Total Questions
2020 Exam Year
40 With Explanations
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1
Question 1 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

If X = {x : x < 7} and Y = {y: y is a factor of 24} are subsets of μ = {1, 2, 3...10}, find X ∩ Y.

A. {2, 3, 4, 6}
B. {1, 2, 3, 4, 6}
C. {2, 3, 4, 6, 8}
D. {1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8}
Explanation

Step 1: Identify elements in X. Since μ = {1,2,3,...,10} and x < 7, X = {1,2,3,4,5,6}. Step 2: Identify elements in Y. Factors of 24 within μ: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 (since 12 > 10). Step 3: Find intersection X ∩ Y by listing common elements: 1,2,3,4,6. Thus, X ∩ Y = {1,2,3,4,6}.

2
Question 2 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

Evaluate 0.42 ÷ 2.5 / 0.5 × 2.05, leaving the answer in standard form.

A. 1.639 × 10²
B. 6.888 × 10⁻¹
C. 1.639 × 10⁻¹
D. 1.639 × 10⁻²
Explanation

Step 1: Perform division left to right: 0.42 ÷ 2.5 = 0.168. Step 2: Next division: 0.168 ÷ 0.5 = 0.336. Step 3: Multiplication: 0.336 × 2.05 = 0.6888. Step 4: Convert to standard form: 0.6888 = 6.888 × 10⁻¹.

3
Question 3 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The set of numbers {1, -1} is closed under which operation?

A. addition
B. subtraction
C. multiplication
D. division
Explanation

Step 1: Test addition: 1 + 1 = 2 (not in set), 1 + (-1) = 0 (not in set). Not closed. Step 2: Test subtraction: 1 - (-1) = 2 (not in set). Not closed. Step 3: Test multiplication: 1 × 1 = 1, 1 × (-1) = -1, (-1) × (-1) = 1 (all in set). Closed. Step 4: Test division: 1 / (-1) = -1 (in set), but (-1) / 0 undefined if considered, but mainly 1/1=1, but set has no 0. Primarily, multiplication works consistently.

4
Question 4 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

Solve for x: 2x² - 5x - 3 = 0.

A. x = 3, -1/2
B. x = -3, 1/2
C. x = 3/2, -1
D. x = -3/2, 1
Explanation

Step 1: Factor the quadratic: Look for factors of 2*(-3)=-6 that add to -5: -6 and 1. Rewrite: 2x² - 6x + x - 3 = 0. Step 2: Group: 2x(x - 3) + 1(x - 3) = 0. Step 3: Factor: (2x + 1)(x - 3) = 0. Step 4: Set each to zero: 2x + 1 = 0 → x = -1/2; x - 3 = 0 → x = 3.

5
Question 5 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The sum of the first n terms of an A.P. is S_n = n² + n. Find the 5th term.

A. 29
B. 25
C. 14
D. 10
Explanation

Step 1: Recall a_n = S_n - S_{n-1} for n ≥ 2. Step 2: Compute S_5 = 5² + 5 = 25 + 5 = 30. Step 3: Compute S_4 = 4² + 4 = 16 + 4 = 20. Step 4: Subtract: a_5 = 30 - 20 = 10.

6
Question 6 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The roots of the equation x² - 6x + 8 = 0 are

A. 2 and 4
B. -2 and -4
C. 1 and 8
D. 3 and 3
Explanation

Step 1: Find two numbers that multiply to 8 and add to 6: 2 and 4. Step 2: Rewrite: x² - 2x - 4x + 8 = 0. Step 3: Group: x(x - 2) - 4(x - 2) = 0. Step 4: Factor: (x - 2)(x - 4) = 0. Roots: x = 2, x = 4.

7
Question 7 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

Simplify (2x - 3y)² - (x - y)².

A. 3x² - 10xy + 8y²
B. 3x² - 8xy + 5y²
C. 4x² - 12xy + 9y²
D. x² - 4xy + 3y²
Explanation

Step 1: Recall a² - b² = (a - b)(a + b), where a = 2x - 3y, b = x - y. Step 2: Compute a - b = (2x - 3y) - (x - y) = x - 2y. Step 3: Compute a + b = (2x - 3y) + (x - y) = 3x - 4y. Step 4: Multiply: (x - 2y)(3x - 4y) = x*3x + x*(-4y) + (-2y)*3x + (-2y)*(-4y) = 3x² - 4xy - 6xy + 8y² = 3x² - 10xy + 8y².

8
Question 8 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The value of log₅ 25 is

A. 2
B. 5
C. 1/2
D. 25
Explanation

Step 1: Express 25 as power of 5: 25 = 5². Step 2: By definition, log₅ (5²) = 2.

9
Question 9 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The gradient of the line passing through (2,3) and (4,7) is

A. 2
B. 3
C. 1/2
D. 4
Explanation

Step 1: Identify points: (x₁,y₁) = (2,3), (x₂,y₂) = (4,7). Step 2: Apply formula m = (y₂ - y₁)/(x₂ - x₁) = (7 - 3)/(4 - 2) = 4/2 = 2.

10
Question 10 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The area of a triangle with vertices (1,1), (5,1), (3,4) is

A. 6
B. 8
C. 12
D. 4
Explanation

Step 1: List coordinates: A(1,1), B(5,1), C(3,4). Step 2: Apply shoelace formula: 1/2 |x₁(y₂ - y₃) + x₂(y₃ - y₁) + x₃(y₁ - y₂)| = 1/2 |1(1 - 4) + 5(4 - 1) + 3(1 - 1)| = 1/2 |-3 + 15 + 0| = 1/2 × 12 = 6.

11
Question 11 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

Solve the inequality 3x - 2 > 7.

A. x > 3
B. x < 3
C. x > 1
D. x < 1
Explanation

Step 1: Add 2 to both sides: 3x > 9. Step 2: Divide by 3: x > 3.

12
Question 12 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The solution to the system: x + y = 5, 2x - y = 1 is

A. x=2, y=3
B. x=3, y=2
C. x=1, y=4
D. x=4, y=1
Explanation

Step 1: Add the equations: (x + y) + (2x - y) = 5 + 1 → 3x = 6 → x = 2. Step 2: Substitute into first: 2 + y = 5 → y = 3.

13
Question 13 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The matrix [[1,2],[3,4]] times [[5],[6]] is

A. [[17],[39]]
B. [[17,39]]
C. [[5,6],[15,24]]
D. [[7],[9]]
Explanation

Step 1: First row: 1×5 + 2×6 = 5 + 12 = 17. Step 2: Second row: 3×5 + 4×6 = 15 + 24 = 39. Result: [[17],[39]].

14
Question 14 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The binomial expansion of (x + 2)^4 the constant term is

A. 16
B. 0
C. 8
D. 4
Explanation

Step 1: General term T_{k+1} = C(4,k) x^{4-k} × 2^k. Step 2: For constant term, set 4 - k = 0 → k = 4. Step 3: T_5 = C(4,4) × 2^4 = 1 × 16 = 16.

15
Question 15 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The value of sin 30° + cos 60° is

A. 1
B. 0.5
C. 1.5
D. 0
Explanation

Step 1: sin 30° = 1/2 = 0.5. Step 2: cos 60° = 1/2 = 0.5. Step 3: Sum: 0.5 + 0.5 = 1.

16
Question 16 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The circumference of a circle with diameter 14 cm is

A. 44 cm
B. 88 cm
C. 22 cm
D. 154 cm
Explanation

Step 1: Use formula C = π d. Step 2: Substitute π = 22/7, d = 14: C = (22/7) × 14 = 22 × 2 = 44 cm.

17
Question 17 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

In a right triangle, tan θ = 3/4, then sin θ =

A. 3/5
B. 4/5
C. 5/3
D. 5/4
Explanation

Step 1: tan θ = opposite/adjacent = 3/4. Step 2: Hypotenuse = √(3² + 4²) = √(9 + 16) = √25 = 5. Step 3: sin θ = opposite/hypotenuse = 3/5.

18
Question 18 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The area of a circle with radius 7 cm is

A. 154 cm²
B. 44 cm²
C. 22 cm²
D. 49 cm²
Explanation

Step 1: Use formula A = π r². Step 2: Substitute π = 22/7, r = 7: A = (22/7) × 49 = 22 × 7 = 154 cm².

19
Question 19 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The volume of a cylinder with radius 5 cm and height 10 cm is

A. 250π cm³
B. 100π cm³
C. 50π cm³
D. 785 cm³
Explanation

Step 1: Use formula V = π r² h. Step 2: Substitute r = 5, h = 10: V = π × 25 × 10 = 250π cm³.

20
Question 20 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The angle in a semicircle is

A. 90°
B. 180°
C. 45°
D. 360°
Explanation

Step 1: Recall theorem: angle subtended by diameter at circumference is right angle. Step 2: Thus, 90°.

21
Question 21 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The mean of numbers 1,2,3,4,5 is

A. 3
B. 15
C. 2.5
D. 5
Explanation

Step 1: Sum = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 = 15. Step 2: Number of terms = 5. Step 3: Mean = 15 / 5 = 3.

22
Question 22 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The median of 2,4,6,8,10 is

A. 6
B. 5
C. 4
D. 8
Explanation

Step 1: List in order: 2,4,6,8,10. Step 2: Since odd number of terms (5), median is middle (3rd) term: 6.

23
Question 23 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The mode of 1,2,2,3,3,3,4 is

A. 3
B. 2
C. 1
D. 4
Explanation

Step 1: Count frequencies: 1 (1 time), 2 (2 times), 3 (3 times), 4 (1 time). Step 2: Highest frequency: 3 (3 times).

24
Question 24 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The probability of drawing a red ball from a bag with 3 red and 7 blue is

A. 3/10
B. 7/10
C. 1/3
D. 2/3
Explanation

Step 1: Total balls = 3 + 7 = 10. Step 2: Favorable = 3 red. Step 3: P = 3/10.

25
Question 25 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The range of 5,7,3,9,1 is

A. 8
B. 5
C. 4
D. 9
Explanation

Step 1: Order: 1,3,5,7,9. Step 2: Max = 9, min = 1. Step 3: Range = 9 - 1 = 8.

26
Question 26 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The variance of 1,2,3 is

A. 2/3
B. 1
C. 0.666
D. 0.5
Explanation

Step 1: Mean = (1+2+3)/3 = 2. Step 2: Deviations squared: (1-2)²=1, (2-2)²=0, (3-2)²=1. Step 3: Average = (1+0+1)/3 = 2/3.

27
Question 27 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

In a pie chart, a sector of 72° represents

A. 20%
B. 72%
C. 36%
D. 10%
Explanation

Step 1: Full circle = 360°. Step 2: Proportion = 72 / 360 = 0.2. Step 3: Percentage = 0.2 × 100% = 20%.

28
Question 28 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The number of ways to arrange 3 books on a shelf is

A. 6
B. 3
C. 1
D. 9
Explanation

Step 1: For first position: 3 choices. Step 2: Second: 2 remaining. Step 3: Third: 1 left. Step 4: Total = 3 × 2 × 1 = 6.

29
Question 29 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The combination C(5,2) is

A. 10
B. 5
C. 20
D. 25
Explanation

Step 1: C(5,2) = 5! / (2! × (5-2)!) = 120 / (2 × 6) = 120 / 12 = 10. Step 2: Or: (5×4)/ (2×1) = 20/2 = 10.

30
Question 30 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The standard deviation is the square root of

A. variance
B. mean
C. median
D. mode
Explanation

Standard deviation = √variance. By definition in statistics.

31
Question 31 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

Solve 2^x = 8.

A. 3
B. 4
C. 2
D. 1
Explanation

Step 1: Express 8 as power of 2: 8 = 2^3. Step 2: Thus, x = 3.

32
Question 32 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The limit as x->0 of sin x / x is

A. 1
B. 0
C.
D. -1
Explanation

lim_{x→0} (sin x / x) = 1. Standard limit in calculus.

33
Question 33 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The derivative of x² is

A. 2x
B. x
C. 2
D. x³/3
Explanation

d/dx (x²) = 2x. Apply power rule: d/dx (x^n) = n x^{n-1}.

34
Question 34 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The integral of 3x dx is

A. 3x²/2 + C
B. 3x + C
C. x³ + C
D. 6x + C
Explanation

Step 1: ∫ 3x dx = 3 ∫ x dx. Step 2: ∫ x dx = x²/2 + C. Step 3: 3 × (x²/2) + C = (3x²/2) + C.

35
Question 35 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The probability of at least one head in two coin tosses is

A. 3/4
B. 1/4
C. 1/2
D. 1
Explanation

Step 1: Total outcomes: 4 (HH, HT, TH, TT). Step 2: No heads: TT (1 outcome). Step 3: At least one head: 1 - 1/4 = 3/4.

36
Question 36 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The HCF of 12 and 18 is

A. 6
B. 3
C. 12
D. 18
Explanation

Step 1: 18 ÷ 12 = 1 remainder 6. Step 2: 12 ÷ 6 = 2 remainder 0. Step 3: HCF = 6.

37
Question 37 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The LCM of 4 and 6 is

A. 12
B. 24
C. 2
D. 8
Explanation

Step 1: Prime factors: 4 = 2², 6 = 2 × 3. Step 2: Highest powers: 2² × 3 = 4 × 3 = 12.

38
Question 38 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

Convert 1011 binary to decimal.

A. 11
B. 13
C. 15
D. 7
Explanation

Step 1: Positions from right: 2⁰=1 (1), 2¹=2 (1), 2²=4 (0), 2³=8 (1). Step 2: 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 11.

39
Question 39 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The number 0.25 in binary is

A. 0.01
B. 0.1
C. 0.001
D. 1.0
Explanation

Step 1: 0.25 × 2 = 0.5 (bit 0). Step 2: 0.5 × 2 = 1.0 (bit 1). Step 3: Result: 0.01 binary.

40
Question 40 of 40
WAEC · Mathematics · 2020

The sum of 1 + 1/4 + 1/16 is

A. 1.333
B. 1.3125
C. 1.25
D. 1
Explanation

Step 1: Common denominator 16: 1 = 16/16, 1/4 = 4/16, 1/16 = 1/16. Step 2: Sum = (16 + 4 + 1)/16 = 21/16. Step 3: 21 ÷ 16 = 1.3125.

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