33 Responses
The question for a math answer is an open-ended question. The speaker is asking the listener for the answer. We will look at two types of responses: complete responses and short responses.
Complete Responses
A complete response repeats the math equation and offers the answer. The “to be” examples are first.
For example, with “to be” verbs:
What is five times three?
Five times three is fifteen.
What is 48 divided by 12 equal to?
Forty-eight divided by twelve is equal to four.
How much is five and seven the same as?
Five and seven is the same as twelve.
How much is 37 minus 19 equivalent to?
Thirty-seven minus 19 is equivalent to 18.
Your Turn — Practice Complete Responses for Open-Ended “To Be” Math Questions
Read through the complete responses for the “non-to be” open-ended questions below.
For example, with “non-to be” verbs:
What does five times three equal?
Five times three equals fifteen.
What does 48 divided by 12 make?
Forty-eight divided by twelve makes four.
How much does five and seven make?
Five and seven makes twelve.
How much is 37 minus 19 equal?
Thirty-seven minus 19 equals 18.
Your Turn — Practice Complete Responses with “non-To Be” Math Questions
Short Responses
There is good news with the short responses. They are the same for “to be” and “non-to be” questions.
The response can use “to be” (is) or equals in with the answer.
For example:
What is four plus five? -or- What does four plus five equal?
It equals nine. -or- It is nine.
How much is six times four equal to? -or- How much does six times four equal?
It equals 24. -or- It is 24.
If the math question uses the equal sign (=) word “make”, the answer can use “makes”, “equals”, or “is”.
For example:
What does seven times seven make?
It makes 49. -or- It equals 49. -or- It is 49.
How much does thirty-six divided by four make?
It makes 12. -or- It equals 12. -or- It is 49.
Your Turn — Practice Short Responses to Open-Ended Math Questions
