Before I tell you about this, I want you to look at the two pictures below and find the answer. To solve these two pictures you must fill in the missing square with what comes next. Good Luck!

Picture 1

Picture 2

Now a little back story. These two pictures are from a math book aimed at 3-5 year olds. Without knowing that first, some of you might try to over analyze the math involved and get confused. When I had to teach this page, the only instructions given were the ones I gave you above. That’s it. I felt stupid because I couldn’t understand what the answer was. I asked around to other teachers and they couldn’t get it. We finally figured it out when another teacher who had previously taught this book gave us the answer. FYI he was confused the first time too. It just goes to show you the simplest answer is usually the correct one.

To those that still can’t get it, here is a hint: Picture #1 is subtraction, and Picture #2 is addition. Congrats to the geniuses out there that got it right away, or the dummies with the mind of a child.