1.2.5

Missing Number Problems

Test yourself

Missing Number Problems

We can use our knowledge of number relationships, number facts and inverse operations to find the missing number in a calculation.

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Equations

  • An equation is a number sentence with an = sign.
  • The = sign just means one side is equal to the other.
    • 3 + 6 = 10 - 1
    • 3 + 6 = 9 and 10 - 1 = 9, so both sides are equal.
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Missing number

  • Sometimes we have to work out the missing number in an equation.
  • This is not always the number after the = sign.
  • For example:
    • 20 + ? = 50
    • 3 + ? = 10 - 1
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Number facts

  • We can use our knowledge to help find the missing number.
    • 200 + 400 = ?
  • We know the number fact:
    • 2 + 4 = 6
  • The missing number is 600.
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Bar models

  • We can use bar models to find the missing number.
    • 20 + ? = 50
  • We can see a relationship between 50, 20 and 30.
  • The missing number is 30.
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Inverse operations

  • We can use inverse operations to find the missing number.
    • 27 + ? = 38
  • The inverse is 38 - 27 = 11.
  • The missing number is 11.

Jump to other topics

1Year 3 - Number

2Year 3 - Measurement

3Year 3 - Geometry

4Year 3 - Statistics

5Year 4 - Number

6Year 4 - Measurement

7Year 4 - Geometry

8Year 4 - Statistics

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