Grade 6 · Math · Unit 6 of 13
Equations
Order of operations, solve for n
What your child practises
Using the order of operations (brackets, then × and ÷, then + and −) and solving one-step equations like 6n = 42 with inverse operations, including writing equations for word problems.
Nunavut Curriculum approved guide: Alberta Mathematics K–9 (2007), Number; Patterns and Relations · order of operations, equations with letter variables, and keeping equations balanced
How we explain it
Children can open this short lesson before they practise.
- Follow the order of operations: brackets first.
- Then multiply and divide, left to right.
- Then add and subtract, left to right.
Example: 4 + 3 × 2 = ? Multiply first: 3 × 2 = 6. Then add: 4 + 6 = 10. Answer: 10
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Solve for m.
m + 19 = 45
answer box
26
Hint: Undo adding 19: subtract 19 from both sides. m = 45 − 19.
Question 2
Solve for y.
y ÷ 11 = 6
answer box
66
Hint: Undo dividing: multiply both sides by 11. y = 6 × 11.
Question 3
A bag of n apples is shared equally among 8 friends. Each friend gets 14 apples. Which equation fits?
- n ÷ 8 = 14
- n − 8 = 14
- n + 8 = 14
- 8n = 14
n ÷ 8 = 14
Hint: Ask what happens to the unknown amount n: is something added to it, taken away, multiplied or shared? Write that action with n.
Question 4
Which step solves n − 41 = 15 for n?
n − 41 = 15
- Multiply both sides by 41
- Add 41 to both sides
- Divide both sides by 41
- Subtract 41 from both sides
Add 41 to both sides
Hint: Use the inverse (opposite) operation: subtraction undoes addition, and division undoes multiplication.
Question 5
Solve for k.
9k = 72
answer box
8
Hint: 9k means 9 × k. Undo multiplying: divide both sides by 9.
Question 6
What is 39 − 9 ÷ 3?
39 − 9 ÷ 3 = ?
answer box
36
Hint: Order of operations: brackets first, then × and ÷ from left to right, then + and − from left to right. Divide first: 9 ÷ 3 = 3. Then subtract it from 39.