The gap can be anywhere: 6 × ? = 42, ? ÷ 4 = 5, or 36 ÷ ? = 9.
Step 1: Let's Learn
Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.
Use the fact family
Whichever piece is missing, the other two tell you the family it belongs to.
When the total is missing
? ÷ 4 = 5 means the total was split into 4 shares of 5. So it was 20.
Always check
Put your answer back into the sentence and see whether it works.
The gap can be anywhere
You might see ? × 6 = 42, or 7 × ? = 42, or 42 ÷ ? = 6, or ? ÷ 7 = 6. All four are the same fact family with a different piece hidden. Work out which of the three numbers you have been given and which you are missing.
How to find it
If the product is known and a factor is missing, divide. If both factors are known, multiply. For 42 ÷ ? = 6, ask what you divide 42 by to get 6 — the answer is 7, which you can find because 6 × 7 = 42. Knowing your tables both ways makes all four cases the same job.
Substitute your answer back
Once you think the missing number is 7, write the sentence out in full with 7 in place of the gap and check it is true. This catches the commonest error, which is dividing the wrong way round, and it takes only a moment.
Step 2: Try It Yourself
Tap and try it out.
42
6
7
- 6 × 7 = 42
Step 3: Watch an Example
One step at a time.
Watch Ana Find a Total
Ana is asked to solve ? ÷ 4 = 5.
- Step 1
She reads it as a sharing story: something split into 4 shares of 5.
Step 4: Your Turn
Practice makes it stick.
The Missing Factor
Problem 1 of 2
6 × ? = 42. What is the missing factor?
The Missing Divisor
Problem 2 of 2
36 ÷ ? = 9. What is the missing number?
Fill the Gap
1 of 4
8 × ? = 56
2 of 4
? ÷ 6 = 8
3 of 4
45 ÷ ? = 5
4 of 4
? × 9 = 72
Step 5: Quick Check
Show what you know.
Question 1 of 2
7 × ? = 63
Question 2 of 2
? ÷ 5 = 7. What is the missing number?
What You Learned
- The gap can be in any position.
- The other two numbers name the fact family.
- Check by putting your answer back in.