Missing factors, step by step
A missing factor turns a times-table fact into a division question without ever printing a division sign.
The question
4 × ? = 32
4×?=32
4×?=32
32÷4=8
4×8=32
- The gap is not at the end this time — the ANSWER is already there. What is missing is one of the two numbers going in, so the sum cannot just be worked left to right.
- Counting in 4s would take too long here, so undo the multiplying instead: 4 of something makes 32, so the something is 32 shared into 4.
- Put it back in to be sure: 4 × 8 = 32. It holds, so the missing number is 8.
How it works.
- 01
The gap is not at the end this time — the ANSWER is already there. What is missing is one of the two numbers going in, so the sum cannot just be worked left to right.
- 02
Counting in 4s would take too long here, so undo the multiplying instead: 4 of something makes 32, so the something is 32 shared into 4.
- 03
Put it back in to be sure: 4 × 8 = 32. It holds, so the missing number is 8.