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Maths Quiz - Year 1 Calculation - Symbols (Questions)

This quiz addresses the requirements of the National Curriculum KS1 Maths and Numeracy for children aged 5 and 6 in year 1. Specifically this quiz is aimed at the section dealing with reading, writing and interpreting mathematical statements involving addition (+), subtraction (–) and equals (=) signs.

Recognising, selecting and using the right symbol in a number sentence is vital. A good understanding of what the addition, subtraction and equals signs look like, what they mean in maths, and what they do to numbers is a really important area of development. Understanding the language associated with the addition, subtraction and equals signs will help children calculate accurately.

1. What does this symbol mean: +
[ ] Adding or addition
[ ] Subtracting or subtraction
[ ] Is the answer
[ ] Is the same as
2. What does this symbol mean: -
[ ] Multiplication
[ ] Addition or adding
[ ] Subtracting or subtraction
[ ] Division
3. What does this symbol mean: =
[ ] My answer is
[ ] Is equal to or the same as
[ ] Dividing
[ ] Multiplying
4. Which symbol is missing from this calculation:
3 ? 6 = 9
[ ] +
[ ] -
[ ] =
[ ] x
5. Which symbol is missing from this calculation:
6 - 2 ? 4
[ ] x
[ ] +
[ ] =
[ ] -
6. Which symbol is missing from this calculation:
4 ? 1 = 3
[ ] ÷
[ ] =
[ ] +
[ ] -
7. What is wrong with this number sentence:
7 + 3 = 4
[ ] The addition sign should be a subtraction sign
[ ] The addition sign is in the wrong place
[ ] The equal sign is in the wrong place
[ ] The numbers are too small
8. Which symbol could be used instead of the words in brackets?
5 (plus) 5 = 10
[ ] -
[ ] =
[ ] +
[ ] ÷
9. Which symbol could be used instead of the words in brackets?
5 (minus) 5 = 0
[ ] x
[ ] =
[ ] +
[ ] -
10. Which symbol could be used instead of the words in brackets?
5 + 4 (is equal to) 9
[ ] +
[ ] =
[ ] -
[ ] x

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Adding and subtracting

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Maths Quiz - Year 1 Calculation - Symbols (Answers)
1. What does this symbol mean: +
[x] Adding or addition
[ ] Subtracting or subtraction
[ ] Is the answer
[ ] Is the same as
It is used when numbers are added together, for example 4 + 5 = 9
2. What does this symbol mean: -
[ ] Multiplication
[ ] Addition or adding
[x] Subtracting or subtraction
[ ] Division
This symbol is used in subtraction calculations, such as 5 - 3 = 2
3. What does this symbol mean: =
[ ] My answer is
[x] Is equal to or the same as
[ ] Dividing
[ ] Multiplying
Many people think this symbol means 'is the answer' but it really means 'is equal to'
4. Which symbol is missing from this calculation:
3 ? 6 = 9
[x] +
[ ] -
[ ] =
[ ] x
If you add 3 and 6, the answer is 9
5. Which symbol is missing from this calculation:
6 - 2 ? 4
[ ] x
[ ] +
[x] =
[ ] -
6 - 2 is equal to, or the same as 4
6. Which symbol is missing from this calculation:
4 ? 1 = 3
[ ] ÷
[ ] =
[ ] +
[x] -
Subtracting 1 from 4 gives an answer of 3
7. What is wrong with this number sentence:
7 + 3 = 4
[x] The addition sign should be a subtraction sign
[ ] The addition sign is in the wrong place
[ ] The equal sign is in the wrong place
[ ] The numbers are too small
If you change - for +, the answer becomes correct
8. Which symbol could be used instead of the words in brackets?
5 (plus) 5 = 10
[ ] -
[ ] =
[x] +
[ ] ÷
Plus is another word for add
9. Which symbol could be used instead of the words in brackets?
5 (minus) 5 = 0
[ ] x
[ ] =
[ ] +
[x] -
Minus is another way of saying subtract or take away
10. Which symbol could be used instead of the words in brackets?
5 + 4 (is equal to) 9
[ ] +
[x] =
[ ] -
[ ] x
This symbol means 'is equal to' or 'is the same as'