Using symbols instead of numbers

What number can be added to 21 to get

50?
+ 15 = 27 7 x = 56

Sometimes questions have a missing

number that you need to find.
Using symbols instead of numbers

What number can be added to 21 to get

50? 29
22 + 15 = 27 7 x 8 = 56

Sometimes questions have a missing

number that you need to find.
Using symbols instead of numbers

We often use a symbol to represent that

missing number. Sometimes this is a
letter.

P + 43 = 80 4 x n = 24
Using symbols instead of numbers

We can use a variety of strategies to

solve these:

TRIAL & ERROR

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT
INVERSES
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & ERROR also known as guesswork!

This is the most basic method. Guess

various numbers and see if they work. It is
not very efficient and doesnt always give
you the answer.

26 + w = 94
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & ERROR also known as guesswork!

This is the most basic method. Guess

various numbers and see if they work. It is
not very efficient and doesnt always give
you the answer.

26 + w = 94 80?
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & ERROR also known as guesswork!

This is the most basic method. Guess

various numbers and see if they work. It is
not very efficient and doesnt always give
you the answer.

26 + w = 94 80? x
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & ERROR also known as guesswork!

This is the most basic method. Guess

various numbers and see if they work. It is
not very efficient and doesnt always give
you the answer.

26 + w = 94 70?
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & ERROR also known as guesswork!

This is the most basic method. Guess

various numbers and see if they work. It is
not very efficient and doesnt always give
you the answer.

26 + w = 94 70? x
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 80? gives 106 too big!
So lets look at numbers less than 80.
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 70? gives 96 too big!
So lets look at numbers less than 70.
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 60? gives 86 too small!
So lets look at numbers between 60 and 70.
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 65? gives 91 too small!
So lets look at numbers between 65 and 70.
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 67? gives 93 too small!
So lets look at numbers between 67 and 70.
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 69? gives 95 too big!
So lets look at numbers between 67 and 69.
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 68? Gives 94 correct!
Using symbols instead of numbers

TRIAL & IMPROVEMENT educated

guesswork that gets more accurate!

This method usually gets you to the answer,

but can take a long time. It helps if you say
if the answer is too big, too small, or
correct.
26 + w = 94 w = 68
Using symbols instead of numbers

INVERSES using the undo method.

This method will always get you the answer,

and will often be the quickest method. It
is, however, slightly trickier.

26 + w = 94

The INVERSE of + is -
Using symbols instead of numbers

INVERSES using the undo method.

This method will always get you the answer,

and will often be the quickest method. It
is, however, slightly trickier.

w = 94 - 26

The INVERSE of + is -
Using symbols instead of numbers

INVERSES using the undo method.

This method will always get you the answer,

and will often be the quickest method. It
is, however, slightly trickier.

w = 68

The INVERSE of + is -
Using symbols instead of numbers

INVERSES using the undo method.

This method will always get you the answer,

and will often be the quickest method. It
is, however, slightly trickier.

d x 9 = 54

The inverse of x is
Using symbols instead of numbers

INVERSES using the undo method.

This method will always get you the answer,

and will often be the quickest method. It
is, however, slightly trickier.

d = 54 9

The inverse of x is
Using symbols instead of numbers

INVERSES using the undo method.

This method will always get you the answer,

and will often be the quickest method. It
is, however, slightly trickier.

d=6

The inverse of x is
Using symbols instead of numbers

Try these:

6 + a = 19
b + 43 = 60
15 c = 2 Be careful with these ones
d 26 = 90
e x 4 = 32
7 x f = 77
g 10 = 120
300 h = 6
Using symbols instead of numbers

Try these:

6 + a = 19 a=
b + 43 = 60 b=
15 c = 2 c=
d 26 = 90 d=
e x 4 = 32 e=
7 x f = 77 f=
g 10 = 120 g=
300 h = 6 h=
Using symbols instead of numbers

Try these:

6 + a = 19 a = 19 - 6
b + 43 = 60 b = 60 43
15 c = 2 c = 15 - 2
d 26 = 90 d = 90 + 26
e x 4 = 32 e = 32 4
7 x f = 77 f = 77 7
g 10 = 120 g = 120 x 10
300 h = 6 h = 300 6
Using symbols instead of numbers

Try these:

6 + a = 19 a = 13
b + 43 = 60 b = 17
15 c = 2 c = 13
d 26 = 90 d = 116
e x 4 = 32 e=8
7 x f = 77 f = 11
g 10 = 120 g = 1200
300 h = 6 h = 50