1 is correct

Yes, 1 shd be the answer. ;)

Thanks

The qn is asking "how much less than 2439 will give an answer 2290". Rephrasing to simpler numbers: how much less than 10 will give an answer 8? Answer is 2 less than 10 will give an answer 8. :)

This is a worksheet from my boy's tuition centre which has a similar qn.

This is one of the 'less than' qns which my boy had done in the past and he got it correct. He is taught to write an equation and flip the 2 numbers for 'less than' questions

Here are some questions and answers are highlighted. If A less than B is C, thus equation is B - A = C. A is always a smaller number than B.

Guess is the phrasing of the words that created the confusion... Thanks all for the pointers... If that is the case, Teacher has marked wrongly?

If it is number 4 then it is poor use on English

This is not tough math, it's poor English. Celine Lim, based on the phrasing of the question, answer should be 1. If the setter intended for the answer to be option 4, the question should have been written as an equation which it's not.

4 is correct

See? If english no good, maths also fail. But i found many language issue with maths paper. Perhaps MOE should review this language issue

Feeling confused 😓 so what is the answer? I also think the answer is 1

Option 4 is indeed correct.

Maybe u can train your child in 2 ways. First way, use the same equation but substitute with simple numbers. Like 3 less than 5 is 2. Then from from here, let your child see the link between the 3 numbers. 2nd way is, explain to your child that the words 'less than' means less, so relate to subtraction. Then when A less than B, I train my students in a way that they will realize B is the bigger number by usage of a upward arrow. So it becomes B-A. This, the descriptor ' A less than B' is for C. The word 'is' means equal in Mathematical language. Hence, B-A=C

Hi Kai Meng, from your explanation, shouldn't option 1 be the answer? :)

This is what my boy learnt: https://m.facebook.com/home.php#!/conceptmath/photos/pb.126947937368074.-2207520000.1444927030./696002410462621/?type=3&source=42

Answer is 1

Just rephrase the question. Is means equal. So can shift it to the front for better clarity. So 2290 is ____ less than 2439. Answer 1.

So the answer is 1? I tot it's 1 too...same as 2 less than 5 is 3...The first number is always the smaller number compared to the second number..

I feel that answer is (1). If answer is (4), the English makes no sense to me.

Sorry, but the question seemed correct. _________ less than 2 is 2

Guess the confusion here is the word 'than'. Is there any difference if I put it 1) What less than 2 is 2 ? 2) What less 2 is 2 ? Yes certainly.... 1) 0, cos nothing is less than 2 is 2 or to rephrase, you don't take away anything from 2 in order to get 2. 2) 4, cos 4 less (-) 2 is 2. Hope this clarifies..

answer should be 1.

Instead of reading the ST over breakfast, I'm following the examples shared by Pauline Vong Nyit Li and Caryn Mok. (1510) less than 2030 is 520; (300) is 200 less than 500; 50 less than 600 is (550), so this test qns ( ) less than 2439 is 2290, ans should be 149! I Apply to this test qns, X less THAN Y is Z a.k.a. Z is X less than Y. there's a comparison between Z & Y, and Y is always a smaller value than Z. In case when X less Y is straightforwardly Y took out from X i.e. X - Y = Z Thanks Pauline, your last explanation makes sense. Now i understand why parents are lamenting about language used in math qns! :)

Hi All, thanks for all your inputs. The school MATH teachers have confirmed (1) 149 is the answer. 😊

Yay, 1 is the correct ans.. When u post out this question and 4 is the ans, i begin to question myself...thought all along i taught my kids wrongly. Luckily it's not:)

The answer is 4.

On closer look, yes option 1 shd be correct.

Alain Chan

Did teacher provide any explaination on such? My ans is same as the school, ans 4.. I read the Q as ____ - 2439 = 2290 hence ans is 4729 which is (4)

Agree w Celine Lim ...

Yes,Celine Lim is right,the ans is 4

For this qn, he will do it this way. 'Less' is - and 'is' is equal and flip the 6757 and ? . ______ less than 6757 is 5586 6757 - ? = 5586 6757 - 5586 = ? ? = 1171 (ans)

This is assessment paper P3 SA2 2014 Catholic High, thus no explanation from teacher.

Oh I tot teacher will explain be it is for practice or is actual paper...

Teacher had explained how to do these kind of qns early this year, I guess. This paper was printed from online....

Oic... nowadays maths are getting tougher...

This paper was printed online. I marked the paper based on the answer given. So, I guess the key answer is wrong..

Teacher don't really teach the foundation they just explain either the student know or don't know.

Nope. Option 4 is still correct. Say A less than B is C. In most cases, B is bigger than A, since primary students at this stage has not learnt negative numbers yet. A primary 3 child would have done several of such questions like '5 more than 4 is ______ ' or '3 less than 8 is ______ ' 'Less than' means subtract in mathematical language. The word 'is' means equal in mathematical language.

Hence, the question in mathematical language is 2439- ____ = 2290

Yup, isn't that option 1 i.e. ans 149? Option 4 answer is 4729.

Indeed an easier way. Thanks for sharing...

I agree with Caryn Mok.

Kai Meng, if that's the case based on your explanation, shouldn't the answer be (1) 149 !?

But 4 cannot be less than 2 in the first place. Taking into account they haven't learnt negative integers yet

Thx Kai Meng for taking time n effort to explain, with smaller numbers.. But line 4 seems to b incorrect; 3 less than 5 is 2?😳

Yes.. Moreover if X less than Y, thus obviously X is smaller than Y. So, answer cannot be no 4.

I feel that the question is wrongly phrased. It should be A) ? less 2 is 2 B) 2 less than ? Is 2. 4 cannot be less than 2

Is this what you teach your students?

It is best not to have too many rules and structures for young children too soon. Lead children to reason and understand. After they have found the answer, put it into the space and read the number sentence and ask "does it make sense". Inculcating number sense is more important than remembering structures.

Thks Yueh Mei for the professional advice. :)

Thank you so much, Adrian!!

Thanks for the step by step

(33 + 39) ÷ (53 - 45) = 9 containers Why waste time drawing models? ☺ Do not restrict yourself to a particular way of solving problems. Be open to several ways, then familiarise yourself with which method is most suitable based on the nature of the question. Be flexible.

My son will usually draw this model. Hope it helps

Using systematic listing

But how to explain to the kid? How did you arrive at this?

To put 8 (53 - 45) more beads into each container, we need 72 (33 + 39) more beads. That must mean we have 72 ÷ 8 = 9 containers.

Thanks, Raymond