The Bracket Hunt

Grade 5 · Puzzles · Page 1 of 2

Name Date
DIRECTIONS: Add one pair of brackets to make each one true.
Example: 2 + 4 × 5 = 30 is false (it makes 22). (2 + 4) × 5 = 30 is true.
1.
3 + 5 × 2  =  16
2.
12 − 4 ÷ 2  =  4
3.
20 − 5 × 3  =  45
4.
6 + 2 × 8  =  64
5.
36 ÷ 6 − 3  =  12
6.
4 + 5 × 2 − 3  =  15
7.
18 ÷ 3 + 2 × 4  =  32
8.
7 − 3 × 2 + 5  =  13
  1. Take puzzle 1. Work out what it makes without brackets, then with them. Why are the two answers different?

The Bracket Hunt — Think About It

Grade 5 · Puzzles · Page 2 of 2

  1. In which of the eight puzzles did the brackets go round an addition or subtraction? Why is that the commonest place for them?
  2. Write an expression of your own that is false without brackets and true with them. Then give it to somebody else to solve.
  3. Brackets round a multiplication often change nothing at all. Try it on puzzle 4 and explain what you find.