Balance the Equation: Missing Numbers, True or False, Order of Operations and Function Machines

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Opens on Chapter 15’s example: 8 + 4 = ☐ + 5.

An equation (use ☐, ? or a letter for the unknown)

Try a number in the box optional: see the balance tip

Order of operations

An expression

Function machine

First

Then

Inputs

Or an output, backward

Growing pattern

First term

Goes up by

Which term

Load another example from the book

Enter the numbers from the worksheet, then press Show me.

From the book, Chapter 15. 8 + 4 = ☐ + 5: the left side is 12, so the right side must be 12 too, and 7 + 5 = 12. Writing 12 in the box is the classic misreading of the equals sign; type 12 in “Try a number” to see the balance tip. 3 + 4 × 2 = 11: multiply before you add, unless brackets say otherwise. The machine “× 3, then + 1” turns 2, 5 and 10 into 7, 16 and 31, and 22 came from 7.

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