Missing Factor

Missing Factor

A missing factor problem gives you a product and one factor, then asks for the other factor. Since multiplication combines equal groups, you can undo it with division.

Method

1. Identify the known parts: write down the product and the factor you already know.
2. Divide the product by the known factor: this gives the missing factor.
   • Example idea: if (6 \times ? = 24), then (? = 24 \div 6).
3. State the answer clearly.

Why this works

Multiplication and division are inverse operations. If a number times a factor makes the product, dividing the product by that factor brings you back to the missing number.

Check your answer

Multiply your answer by the known factor. If you get the original product, your answer is correct.

• Example check: (24 \div 6 = 4), and (6 \times 4 = 24).

Tip

If the numbers are small, you can also use skip counting or known multiplication facts to find the missing factor more quickly. The key is always to confirm with multiplication at the end.