Number Machines

Students solve and write number puzzles. In each puzzle, students are given two of the following with the goal of finding the third: a series of operations on a number, a final result, and the original number. These puzzles are good preparation for solving linear equations, in which students have to perform operations on each side of the equation to isolate the variable.

By Desmos Classroom

Learning goals: Learning Goals • Calculate a missing value for a number puzzle that can be represented by a linear equation with one variable, and explain (orally and in writing) the solution method. • Create a number puzzle that can be represented by a linear equation with one variable.