Inverse operations
Inverse operations helps children practise practising inverse operations with grade-2 arithmetic tasks. Read the short guide, solve one browser task, and print a fresh worksheet when more repetition is useful.
How to solve this
- Read the inverse operations task carefully and underline the numbers you already know.
- Look for the relationship: the same total can be written in several ways, and a missing part can be found by the opposite operation.
- After solving, check whether the answer fits the number range and the question.
Examples
30 + 40 = 70
70 - 40 = 30
28 + 9 = 37
37 - 9 = 28
What children practice
- Inverse operations
- missing numbers
- inverse operations
- comparing results before choosing a sign
Practice online
Try one short exercise in the browser.
Printable worksheet
Create a fresh printable worksheet with an answer key for extra practice on paper.
Related topics
FAQ
What should children know before inverse operations?
It helps if children are comfortable with addition and subtraction facts to 20.
What can we do if inverse operations feels hard?
Look for the relationship: the same total can be written in several ways, and a missing part can be found by the opposite operation.
How much practice is enough?
A focused round of 5 to 10 minutes is usually enough for second graders. Stop while the child can still explain one step clearly.