Number sentence

In mathematics education, a number sentence is an equation or inequality expressed using numbers and mathematical symbols. The term is used in primary level mathematics teaching in the US,^[1] Canada, UK,^[2] Australia, New Zealand^[3] and South Africa.^[4]

The term is used as means of asking students to write down equations using simple mathematical symbols (numerals, the four main basic mathematical operators, equality symbol).^[5] Sometimes boxes or shapes are used to indicate unknown values. As such, number sentences are used to introduce students to notions of structure and elementary algebra prior to a more formal treatment of these concepts.

A number sentence without unknowns is equivalent to a logical proposition expressed using the notation of arithmetic.

• A valid number sentence that is true: 83 + 19 = 102.
• A valid number sentence that is false: 1 + 1 = 3.
• A valid number sentence using a 'less than' symbol: 3 + 6 < 10.
• A valid number sentence using a 'more than' symbol: 3 + 9 > 11.
• An example from a lesson plan:^[6]

Some students will use a direct computational approach. They will carry out the addition 26 + 39 = 65, put 65 = 26 + ${\displaystyle \Box }$, and then find that ${\displaystyle \Box }$ = 39.

• Expression (mathematics)
• Equation
• Inequality (mathematics)
• Open sentence
• Sentence (mathematical logic)