MathsFreePrintable
Creating Equations with Unknowns
A free maths worksheet ready for your classroom. Open in Kuraplan to grab the print-ready PDF, customize it for your students, or generate a fresh version in seconds.
Name:Date:
Creating Equations with Unknowns
Write number sentences with an unknown to represent everyday situations. Use a box for the value you do not know.
Write equations from stories
Use □ for the unknown value. Include an equation that matches each story.
1.Luca has 9 toy cars. He gets some more and then has 14 cars. Write an equation showing how many cars he received.
2.There are some ducks in a pond. Then 5 more ducks arrive, making 13 ducks altogether. Write an equation with an unknown for the number of ducks there at first.
3.Amira had $20 and spent some of it on a book. She has $12 left. Write an equation to show the cost of the book as an unknown.
4.Kai picked some apples and then picked 6 more. He has 17 apples now. Which equation represents how many apples he picked first?
- □ + 6 = 17
- 17 + 6 = □
- □ − 6 = 17
Make and explain equations
Use the details in each prompt to create a story and an equation. Your story should make the unknown clear.
5.Invent a short everyday story about adding an unknown amount to 8 to make 15. Write the matching equation too.
6.Write a money story where someone starts with $18, spends an unknown amount and has $11 left. Include an equation for the amount spent.
7.Create a two-step story: start with 10, add 4, then take away an unknown amount to finish with 9. Write the two equations in order.
8.In your own words, explain what the box stands for in an equation such as 7 + □ = 12.
2 printable pages
Page 1
Page 2
About This Worksheet
Free in Kuraplan
Sign up free, grab the PDF, and customize it for your class.
Print-Ready
Formatted for standard paper. Clean layout, easy to read.
AI-Generated
Created with Kuraplan's AI, designed for real classroom use.
For Teachers & Parents
Use in classrooms, for homework, tutoring, or homeschool.
Need a custom version of this worksheet?
Kuraplan's AI generates custom worksheets in seconds — differentiated for every learner, aligned to your curriculum.
Generate Custom Worksheets — Free No credit card Curriculum-aligned Under 60 seconds
