Making 10 with numerals
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Making 10 with numerals: skill guide
| Objective | This practice removes the ten-frame picture and asks learners to complete numeral equations whose total is 10. |
|---|---|
| Grade | Kindergarten |
| Standard | CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.4 |
| Difficulty | Foundational · Abstract |
| Representation | Numerical equation |
| Practice format | Interactive, account-free practice with immediate feedback |
Objective
This practice removes the ten-frame picture and asks learners to complete numeral equations whose total is 10.
What this practice covers
This practice removes the ten-frame picture and asks learners to complete numeral equations whose total is 10. The equation is shown in several equivalent orientations so learners attend to the relationship rather than memorizing one visual layout.
Standards alignment
Supports Common Core: CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.4 — For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10.
Who it’s for
This practice is for kindergarten learners who count reliably through ten and know that two parts can be joined to make one total. It asks them to find the missing part of 10 from numerals alone, with no picture to count.
What to know first
- Learners should recognize numerals from 0 to 10, count a small group accurately, and understand the words add, plus, and altogether. Memorized addition facts are not required. The equations have no picture, so learners can count on from the known part, using fingers if needed.
Difficulty and scaffolding
Foundational · Abstract stage
Problem representations
- Numerical equation
Three worked examples
- 2 + 8 = 10, so the blank in 2 + □ = 10 is 8.
- 10 = 7 + 3, so the blank in 10 = 7 + □ is 3.
- 9 + 1 = 10, so the blank in □ + 1 = 10 is 9.
Likely misconceptions
- Learners may count the known part again, choose the total instead of the missing part, or lose track when the blank comes first or 10 is on the left. Name the whole and the known part first, then count on from the known part to 10. When the known part is 0, the missing part is all 10.
Hints and explanations
- 2 + 8 = 10, so the blank in 2 + □ = 10 is 8.
- 10 = 7 + 3, so the blank in 10 = 7 + □ is 3.
- 9 + 1 = 10, so the blank in □ + 1 = 10 is 9.
What to practice next
Use these complements to solve addition and subtraction facts near ten and to decompose teen numbers.
Editorial review
Reviewed by Brilliant’s curriculum team. Exercises are generated within defined difficulty ranges and checked against verified answer rules.
Making 10 with numerals FAQs
What is a missing addend?
A missing addend is an unknown part in an addition relationship. If 7 and some unknown number make 10, the unknown addend is 3 because 7 + 3 = 10.
How can a learner solve these without a picture?
Start at the known part and count up to 10, raising one finger for each number said. For 6 + □ = 10, say 7, 8, 9, 10. Four fingers are up, so the answer is 4.
What if the known part is 0?
Then the missing part is all of 10, as in 0 + □ = 10 or 10 = □ + 0. The known part is never 10, so 0 is never the answer in this practice.
How can a learner check the answer?
Add the known part and the chosen missing part. The two numbers should total 10. Reading the finished equation aloud, such as 10 = 7 + 3, is another quick check.