To write an equation, you turn a word story into a number sentence with an equals sign — and that builds on finding a missing number in a number sentence like □ + 3 = 7. Warm up those missing-number sentences and writing equations clicks.
Answer these 3, then press Show my path. No grade — this just points you to the right level.
1. What number makes this true? □ + 3 = 7
2. What does the equals sign (=) mean?
3. "A number plus 2 is 9." Which number sentence shows this?
An equation is a number sentence with an equals sign. The = says the two sides are worth the same. A box □ or a letter stands for the unknown number.
Your quick check picks one for you, but you can switch any time:
Level 0 Find the missing number one step at a time.
A. What goes in the box? □ + 2 = 5
3 + 2 = 5, so the box is 3.
B. What goes in the box? □ + 4 = 6
2 + 4 = 6, so the box is 2.
C. What goes in the box? 1 + □ = 5
1 + 4 = 5, so the box is 4.
Level 1 Match the words to the equation.
A. "A number plus 4 equals 9." Which equation?
"Plus 4" means add 4 to the number n, and "equals 9" gives = 9.
B. In n + 4 = 9, what number is n?
5 + 4 = 9, so n = 5.
Level 2 Write and solve.
A. "7 is the same as a number plus 2." Which equation?
"Is the same as" is the = sign; the number plus 2 is n + 2.
B. In 7 = n + 2, what number is n?
n + 2 = 7, and 5 + 2 = 7, so n = 5.
1. "A number plus 6 is 10." Which equation shows this?
Add 6 to the number n, then set it equal to 10.
2. What number makes □ + 5 = 8 true?
3 + 5 = 8, so the box is 3.
You've practiced exactly what Lesson 7-1 uses. Time to dive in.
Start Lesson 7-1 →