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3rd grade · Math · Unit 5 of 12

Patterns & Equations

Pattern rules and mystery numbers

What your child practices

Extending increasing and decreasing patterns, describing pattern rules in words and tables, and solving one-step equations like ☐ + 8 = 23.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 3.3.6.1; 3.3.7.1 · finding a missing value in a number sentence, and input-output rules

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. An equation has an = sign. Both sides are the same.
  2. A letter or box stands for a missing number.
  3. Do the opposite to find it: the opposite of + is −.

Example: n + 7 = 15 Undo + 7 by taking away 7. 15 − 7 = 8. Answer: n = 8

Patterns & Equations in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 5 of 12 in 3rd grade Math, after Fractions and before Measuring.

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: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

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

    Which pattern rule fits?

    14, 17, 20, 23

    • Start at 14 and add 3 each time
    • Start at 17 and add 3 each time
    • Start at 14 and add 4 each time
    • Start at 14 and subtract 3 each time

  2. Question 2

    Follow the pattern. What number goes where the ? is?

    HandsFingers
    15
    210
    315
    420
    5?

    answer box

  3. Question 3

    What number goes in the box?

    + 54 = 84

    answer box

  4. Question 4

    Which equation matches the story? The is the number we don't know.

    Jay had some trading cards.

    Then Jay got 30 more.

    Now Jay has 93.

    • ☐ + 30 = 93
    • ☐ − 30 = 93
    • 93 + 30 = ☐

  5. Question 5

    What number goes in the box?

    27 + = 89

    • 63
    • 62
    • 116
    • 61

  6. Question 6

    What number goes in the box?

    − 39 = 47

    • 86
    • 87
    • 8
    • 85

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