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Imagining missing elements

Missing elements may be numbers, shapes, variables or other mathematical objects.

They are used to:

  • balance or solve equations
  • predict terms in number sequences or series and sequences
  • complete patterns, tables and arrays
  • solve problems.

Mathematical reasoning is needed to describe and identify missing elements.

Missing elements may be used in teaching and assessment. The activity Covered by H is easy to adapt for all year levels.

Covered by H

This activity focusses on horizontal and vertical place-value patterns in a number grid. A shape is used to cover parts of the grid. Students need to explain what the covered numbers are and how they know.

Curriculum links



Year 2: Describe patterns with numbers and identify missing elements

Year 5: Describe, continue and create patterns with fractions, decimals and whole numbers resulting from addition and subtraction


Year 7: Create algebraic expressions and evaluate them by substituting a given value for each variable