Finding the Missing Number to Make 10 with Bananas

Khan Academy

This educational math video demonstrates how to solve a missing addend problem using concrete visual aids. Specifically, it tackles the equation "3 + _ = 10" by using drawings of bananas to represent the numbers. The narrator guides viewers through a "counting on" strategy, starting with the initial three bananas and drawing additional ones one-by-one until the total reaches ten. The video explores key themes of addition, equality, and the relationship between numbers that sum to ten (often called "friends of ten"). It visually distinguishes between the starting quantity and the added quantity, helping students understand that the missing number represents only the items added to reach the total, not the total itself. For educators, this video is an excellent tool for introducing or reinforcing algebraic thinking in early elementary grades. It bridges the gap between concrete counting and abstract equations. Teachers can use it to model how to use manipulatives to solve for unknown numbers, validating strategies like counting on or using drawing to solve math problems.