Find the rule worksheet
Four In and Out tables per sheet, each hiding one rule. Two columns are filled in and two are not. The child works out what the rule does, writes its number, then uses it to fill the empty boxes. Free, no account, no ads.
What the rule can do
Every rule adds the same number or takes away the same number. The child works out which of the two, and how many. New version prints four fresh cards at the same level.
Teacher page
Adds a second page with each card's rule and its missing Out values. The child's page is unchanged either way.
Why the In row jumps about
The In values are never in order and never step by one. If they did, the Out row would count in ones too, and the card could be finished by continuing that row without ever working out the rule.
Find the rule
Work out the rule. Circle it, write its number, then use it to fill the empty boxes.
Every rule adds the same number or takes away the same number. The child works out which of the two, and how many.
| In | 14 | 10 | 18 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out | 7 | 3 |
| In | 11 | 16 | 9 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out | 5 | 10 |
| In | 15 | 18 | 11 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out | 12 | 8 |
| In | 13 | 4 | 1 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Out | 21 | 12 |
Quick Math Sheets
How it works
Every card hides one rule, and the same rule turns each In value into the Out value underneath it. Two columns show both numbers, so the child has something to work from. Once they can say what the rule does and by how much, the empty boxes follow.
Why the In row is never in order
The In values jump about and never step by one. That is deliberate. If a card read 1, 2, 3, 4 along the top, the Out row would count in ones as well, and a child could finish it by carrying on that row without ever thinking about the rule. Mixing the order up removes that shortcut, so the only way through is the rule itself.
Two levels
On the first level every rule either adds the same number or takes away the same number, so the child decides which of the two and finds the number. The second level adds multiplying, so there are three things a rule might be doing and the child has to work out which before the number means anything.
Where it fits
This suits a child who is comfortable adding and taking away small numbers and is ready to look for a relationship rather than compute one. If spotting what repeats is still the thing to practise, try complete the pattern. For plain written practice of the facts underneath it, you can make a worksheet in seconds.
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