Missing Number (Balance the Equation): Practice Set 2
Missing Number (Balance the Equation): Practice Set 2 is a second practice round on balancing both sides of a number sentence for 11+ verbal reasoning, extending into equations with two brackets, a fraction of a quantity, or the missing number appearing inside an operation rather than standing alone.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Work out the value of the side of the equation that has no missing number, following the order of operations exactly: brackets first, then multiplication and division, then addition and subtraction.
- Write this total down clearly before touching the side that contains the missing number.
- Simplify the known parts of the side with the gap as far as you can, so the missing number is left combined with only one operation.
- Use the inverse operation to isolate the missing number: undo addition with subtraction, subtraction with addition, multiplication with division, and division with multiplication.
- Where the missing number is combined inside a bracket, undo the operations in reverse order, working from the outside of the bracket inwards.
- Substitute your answer back into the original equation and check both sides genuinely balance before choosing your final option.
Worked example
(4 + 3) x 2 = [ ] + 9. Find the missing number.
- Work out the left-hand side first: (4+3)=7, then 7x2=14.
- The right-hand side must also equal 14, so [ ] + 9 = 14.
- Rearrange to find the missing number: [ ] = 14 - 9 = 5.
- Final answer: 5.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q18 x 3 = 16 + [ ]. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 8 (8x3=24, so 24-16=8)
Q220 - [ ] = 3 x 4. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 8 (3x4=12, so 20-12=8)
Q3(15 - 6) x 3 = [ ] + 15. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 12 ((15-6)x3=27, so 27-15=12)
Q4(2/3) x 18 = [ ] - 5. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 17 ((2/3)x18=12, so 12+5=17)
Q55 x [ ] = 60 - 15. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 9 (60-15=45, so 45/5=9)
Q6(4 + [ ]) x 3 = 27. Find the missing number.Show answer
Answer: 5 (27/3=9, so 9-4=5)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
9 x 4 = [ ] + 20. A) 12 B) 16 C) 20 D) 24 E) 36.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
(9 - 4) x (3 + 3) = [ ] x 6. A) 3 B) 5 C) 6 D) 30 E) 36.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
(3/4) x 40 = [ ] + 10. A) 20 B) 24 C) 30 D) 40 E) 50.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the missing number (balance the equation): practice set 2 worksheet pack - 9 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 7 of 11+ Verbal Reasoning Workbook 2, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on missing number (balance the equation): practice set 2, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.