Five a Day - Algebra - Missing number problems expressed in algebra

KS2Gems presents 'Maths Five a Day', a set of five algebraic questions designed to mimic the style of past SATs papers. These questions focus on missing number problems expressed in algebra, providing a valuable resource for primary school teachers to use as a starter activity. It serves as an excellent tool for assessing students' understanding and for retrieval practice. Each question comes with an answer provided on the subsequent slide, making it convenient for teachers to guide students through the problem-solving process and to confirm their answers immediately.

The first question challenges students to calculate the width of a shaded rectangle within a diagram, where all shaded areas are of equal width. The second question tests students' ability to express algebraically the number of sweets left after some are given away. The third and fifth questions involve determining the value of shapes that represent numbers, with totals given for specific combinations of shapes. The fourth question asks students to find an expression for the total number of books owned after receiving additional books from family. These questions not only enhance students' algebraic reasoning but also help them to connect mathematical concepts with real-life scenarios.