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3rd grade · Math · Unit 5 of 16

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.

New York State Learning Standards learning standard: NY-3.OA.4; NY-3.OA.9 · finding the unknown number in an equation and extending arithmetic patterns

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 New York

In the New York State Learning Standards, this is unit 5 of 16 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: New York State Education Department (NYSED)

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

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

    DayPages read
    15
    28
    311
    414
    5?

    answer box

  2. Question 2

    What number is missing from the pattern?

    7, 11, 15, , 23

    answer box

  3. Question 3

    What number goes in the box?

    90 − = 55

    • 35
    • 36
    • 145
    • 34

  4. Question 4

    What number comes next?

    18, 14, 10, 6,

    • 10
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3

  5. Question 5

    What number goes in the box?

    31 + = 62

    • 93
    • 32
    • 30
    • 31

  6. Question 6

    What number goes in the box?

    + 58 = 92

    answer box

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