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4th grade · Math · Unit 7 of 15

Equations

Find the mystery number

What your child practices

Solving one-step equations with a box or letter for the unknown, using all four operations, and matching equations to word problems.

Alabama Course of Study content standard: 4.3 · solving multi-step word problems with a letter for the unknown

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. An equation says two things are equal.
  2. Use the opposite operation to find the missing number.
  3. Check by putting your answer back in.

Example: ☐ + 7 = 15. What is ☐? Opposite of adding 7 is subtracting 7. 15 − 7 = 8. Answer: 8

Equations in Alabama

In the Alabama Course of Study, this is unit 7 of 15 in 4th grade Math, after Patterns & Tables and before Polygons & Perimeter.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    What number goes in the box?

    35 ÷ = 7

    • 7
    • 5
    • 4
    • 6

  2. Question 2

    What number goes in the box?

    141 + = 644

    answer box

  3. Question 3

    Which equation matches the story?

    32 cookies are shared equally on some plates.

    Each plate gets 4 cookies.

    How many plates are there?

    • 32 ÷ ☐ = 4
    • 32 − ☐ = 4
    • ☐ ÷ 32 = 4
    • 32 × ☐ = 4

  4. Question 4

    What number goes in the box?

    − 96 = 121

    answer box

  5. Question 5

    A library shelf had 796 books. Some were borrowed, and 553 are left. How many books were borrowed?

    📚

    answer box

  6. Question 6

    What number makes both sides equal?

    9 × 6 = + 37

    answer box

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