A missing addend is the unknown part in a whole-number addition equation, such as or ; it can be determined by interpreting the total and known addend as part–whole quantities and finding their difference. Understanding the inverse relationship between addition and subtraction supports efficient reasoning with multi-digit numbers, place value, and bar-model or equation representations, without extending here to fractional, decimal, or general algebraic unknowns.
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A missing addend is the number that completes the total. To find it, subtract the known addend from the total:
Example:
So,
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