Missing Factors

This order of operations worksheet challenges students to solve four-step expressions by finding missing factors. Learners must evaluate known parts of each expression using PEMDAS, then reason backward to determine the unknown value, strengthening algebraic thinking and conceptual clarity.

Instructional Objectives

• Skill Focus (Grades 6-8): Determine missing factors in four-step numerical expressions using the correct order of operations.
• Conceptual Understanding (Grades 6-8): Understand how parentheses and operation hierarchy affect the structure and outcome of an expression.
• Algebraic Reasoning (Grades 7-8): Use reverse reasoning to solve for unknown values within multi-step expressions.
• Curriculum Alignment (Grades 6-8): Supports solving for unknowns, order of operations mastery, foundational algebraic reasoning, and multi-step equation structure standards.

Students must carefully evaluate each expression, identify completed operations, and work backward logically to uncover the missing factor. This process promotes persistence, accuracy, and a deeper understanding of how operations interact within complex expressions.

Learning Benefits

• Builds strong reverse-reasoning and problem-solving skills
• Encourages careful analysis of expression structure
• Reinforces both procedural fluency and conceptual understanding
• Effective for enrichment, guided practice, or algebra readiness

This printable worksheet provides rigorous practice that helps students confidently solve missing-factor problems while mastering four-step expressions and the order of operations.

This worksheet is part of our 4-Step Order of Operations Worksheets collection.