This is a level 3 algebra activity from the Figure It Out series.
A PDF of the student activity is included.
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write equations using basic facts
This activity will increase the students’ confidence and competence with basic facts as they create equations and think about relationships instead of completing repetitious closed exercises.
Check that the students’ written expressions follow the standard order of operations (BEMA): Brackets, Exponents, Multiplication and Division (in the order they appear), Addition and Subtraction (in the order they appear).
You could consider using variations of this idea over several sessions or as part of your daily maths routine. You would need to decide how many and which digits the students can use and which operations they can use.
Showcase a few interesting examples by getting the students to write their equation on the whiteboard. For example, if a student wrote this equation: 12 ÷ 3 + 4 = 8, you could point to the 12 ÷ 3 and say: “Julie wanted another 4, so she did this”.
Other variations include:
As an extension, suggest that the students make all the numbers 1–100, using any operations and four 4s, for example: 4 ÷ 4 + 4 – 4 = 1.
1. Teacher to check. (Examples of equations using four, five, and six digit cards are given on the page.)
2.–3. Teacher to check
Printed from https://nzmaths.co.nz/resource/making-equations at 10:16am on the 1st July 2024