Move 1 Matchstick: Plus and Minus Puzzles
A free printable move 1 matchstick: plus and minus puzzles worksheet with an answer key. Move 1 matchstick to make each equation true. Sometimes the stick has to jump to the + or - sign! Great for 2nd grade practice at home or in class.
- Size
- US Letter (8.5 × 11 in), fits A4
- 2 pages: the worksheet and its answer key
- Level
- Grade 2
- License
- Free for personal & classroom use
About this worksheet
A free printable move 1 matchstick: plus and minus puzzles worksheet with an answer key. Move 1 matchstick to make each equation true. Sometimes the stick has to jump to the + or - sign! Second graders usually finish it in 10 to 15 minutes. Check each answer by adding it back to the number taken away.
Answer key at a glance
1) New equation: 7 - 5 = 2; 2) New equation: 8 - 5 = 3; 3) New equation: 4 - 3 = 1; 4) New equation: 3 - 2 = 1; 5) New equation: 4 - 1 = 3; 6) New equation: 2 + 1 = 3.
Tips for using it
- Count back on your fingers or the number line for the hardest facts.
- Read the equation out loud first and say what is wrong with it, like 'six plus two is not five'.
- Look at which digits can change with one stick: a 6 can become a 5, 8 or 9, and a minus can become a plus.
- Build the puzzle with toothpicks and test each idea with your hands before drawing the answer.
Printing tips
Download the PDF and print at 100% (or “fit to page” on A4). Page 1 is the worksheet and page 2 is the answer key with the answers in red; print just page 1 if you want to keep the answers for checking. The PNG shows page 1 only. Free for personal, family and classroom use.
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