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Math: Elementary School: 1st and 2nd Grade Quiz - Checking Calculations with Inverse Operations (Questions)

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In order to check a calculation, it is useful to know the inverse (or opposite) operation. For example, the inverse operation of addition is subtraction so to check 5 + 6 = 11, you could try 11 - 6 = 5 or 11 - 5 = 6. Another way of checking an addition calculation would be to add the numbers up in a different order - this of course does not work for subtraction!

Can you check the calculations by adding in a different order or by using the inverse operation?

1. Which calculation could you use to check that 16 - 9 = 7 is correct?
[ ] 16 + 9 = 7
[ ] 9 + 7 = 16
[ ] 7 - 16 = 9
[ ] 7 - 9 = 16
2. Which calculation could you use to check that 15 + 8 = 23 is correct?
[ ] 23 + 8 = 15
[ ] 23 + 15 = 8
[ ] 15 - 8 = 23
[ ] 23 - 8 = 15
3. How do you know that 20 - 10 = 10?
[ ] Because I know 10 + 10 = 20
[ ] Because it's a subtraction
[ ] Because it's an addition
[ ] Because I know about subtraction
4. Use number pairs, or bonds, to 20 to find the incorrect calculation:
[ ] 20 - 13 = 7
[ ] 20 - 8 = 12
[ ] 20 - 16 = 14
[ ] 20 - 2 = 18
5. Use number pairs, or bonds, to 20 to find the incorrect calculation:
[ ] 20 - 10 = 20
[ ] 20 - 0 = 20
[ ] 20 - 15 = 5
[ ] 20 - 19 = 1
6. If 3 + 4 + 10 + 3 = 20, what could you do to check the answer?
[ ] Take out all the larger numbers
[ ] Use multiplication
[ ] Add some extra numbers in too
[ ] Add the numbers up again in a different order:
10 + 3 + 3 + 4 or 10 + 4 + 3 + 3
7. If 29 - 15 = 14, what could you do to check the answer?
[ ] Subtract the numbers in a different order
[ ] Add 15 and 14 together
[ ] Take out any harder numbers
[ ] Put 14 at the beginning of the calculation
8. How would you check 45 - 23 = 22?
[ ] By subtracting 22 from 23
[ ] By adding 45 and 22
[ ] By finding the total of all the numbers
[ ] By adding 23 and 22
9. How could you check 62 + 38 = 100?
[ ] By taking away 100
[ ] By finding the difference between 62 and 38
[ ] By subtracting 100 from 62
[ ] By subtracting 38 from 100
10. What does 'inverse operation' mean?
[ ] Doing the calculation upside down
[ ] Making a mistake on purpose
[ ] The opposite operation
[ ] A medical procedure
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Math: Elementary School: 1st and 2nd Grade Quiz - Checking Calculations with Inverse Operations (Answers)
1. Which calculation could you use to check that 16 - 9 = 7 is correct?
[ ] 16 + 9 = 7
[x] 9 + 7 = 16
[ ] 7 - 16 = 9
[ ] 7 - 9 = 16
If 9 subtracted from 16 leaves 7, then by adding the 9 back again, you should be back to where you started
2. Which calculation could you use to check that 15 + 8 = 23 is correct?
[ ] 23 + 8 = 15
[ ] 23 + 15 = 8
[ ] 15 - 8 = 23
[x] 23 - 8 = 15
If a group of 15 and a group of 8 are combined, taking one group away again should leave you with the other
3. How do you know that 20 - 10 = 10?
[x] Because I know 10 + 10 = 20
[ ] Because it's a subtraction
[ ] Because it's an addition
[ ] Because I know about subtraction
Using an addition fact can help to solve a subtraction
4. Use number pairs, or bonds, to 20 to find the incorrect calculation:
[ ] 20 - 13 = 7
[ ] 20 - 8 = 12
[x] 20 - 16 = 14
[ ] 20 - 2 = 18
16 + 14 gives a total of 30, not 20
5. Use number pairs, or bonds, to 20 to find the incorrect calculation:
[x] 20 - 10 = 20
[ ] 20 - 0 = 20
[ ] 20 - 15 = 5
[ ] 20 - 19 = 1
20 + 10 would not give a total of 20
6. If 3 + 4 + 10 + 3 = 20, what could you do to check the answer?
[ ] Take out all the larger numbers
[ ] Use multiplication
[ ] Add some extra numbers in too
[x] Add the numbers up again in a different order:
10 + 3 + 3 + 4 or 10 + 4 + 3 + 3
Addition can be done in any order
7. If 29 - 15 = 14, what could you do to check the answer?
[ ] Subtract the numbers in a different order
[x] Add 15 and 14 together
[ ] Take out any harder numbers
[ ] Put 14 at the beginning of the calculation
You can use addition to check a subtraction
8. How would you check 45 - 23 = 22?
[ ] By subtracting 22 from 23
[ ] By adding 45 and 22
[ ] By finding the total of all the numbers
[x] By adding 23 and 22
Adding the two smaller numbers should give the larger number
9. How could you check 62 + 38 = 100?
[ ] By taking away 100
[ ] By finding the difference between 62 and 38
[ ] By subtracting 100 from 62
[x] By subtracting 38 from 100
If 62 + 38 = 100 is correct, then 100 - 38 should give an answer of 62
10. What does 'inverse operation' mean?
[ ] Doing the calculation upside down
[ ] Making a mistake on purpose
[x] The opposite operation
[ ] A medical procedure
The inverse of subtraction is addition, the inverse of addition is subtraction