What your learner will practice
Multi-step thinking. Fourth graders practice larger numbers, fractions, decimals and multi-step reasoning. Encourage estimation as a way to check answers.
With missing numbers in Grade 4, the goal is to build understanding and to explain the method, not just get a number. Take breaks and repeat short sessions when needed.
How to solve missing numbers problems
- 1Name the unknown quantity and read both sides of the equation.
- 2Use the inverse operation to find it.
- 3Substitute your result back into the original equation.
Common mistake to watch for
An equals sign means both sides have the same value.
Try these six examples
Read each question, solve on paper, and then check the answer. The full printable sets below provide 20 new problems each.
- ______ + 2,620 = 5,969 Answer: 3,349
- 2,865 - ______ = 338 Answer: 2,527
- 6,213 - ______ = 3,284 Answer: 2,929
- ______ + 2,027 = 3,963 Answer: 1,936
- 4,834 - ______ = 4,152 Answer: 682
- ______ + 1,732 = 2,214 Answer: 482
Helpful teaching idea
Try a balance-scale drawing to make the equality visible.
Ask for a strategy before computation. Show how to check a result with the reverse operation.