Finding the missing factor
Sometimes a multiplication equation has a hole in it:
4 × ? = 28
The challenge is to find the missing factor — the number that fills the hole.
Strategy 1 — count up by the known factor
Skip-count by 4 until you reach 28:
4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28.
That was 7 jumps. So 4 × 7 = 28.
This works well for small known factors (2, 5, 10).
Strategy 2 — use division
Multiplication and division are opposite operations. The missing factor in `4 × ? = 28` is exactly `28 ÷ 4`:
28 ÷ 4 = 7
So 4 × 7 = 28.
This is faster once you know your tables — every multiplication fact is also a division fact.
Two equations, same family
Every multiplication fact gives you a family of four equations:
4 × 7 = 28
7 × 4 = 28
28 ÷ 4 = 7
28 ÷ 7 = 4
Knowing one gives you all four. The missing factor exercise just hides one of them.
What if the unknown is on the left?
? × 6 = 42
Same idea — divide: 42 ÷ 6 = 7. So 7 × 6 = 42.
Watch out — only multiples appear
The product (right side of `=`) is always a multiple of the known factor. If the equation is `4 × ? = 27`, something is wrong — 27 is not in the 4× table. Real exercises never trick you like that, but it's a useful sanity check.
Try it
- 🔍 Find the missing factor — trains both directions
- ⚡ Times tables — quick drill — feed the speed