NCERT Solutions for Class 4th English Chapter 2 Activity: Fix the equation. Objective: Move one matchstick to make the equation correct. — Fun with Matchsticks
Book page 23 Updated on2026-09-19
Q1.
Activity: Fix the equation. Objective: Move one matchstick to make the equation correct. One puzzle has been solved for you.The puzzle the book has already solved for you on page 23. The matchsticks read 9 − 2 = 8.
Answer
The matchsticks read 9 − 2 = 8, and that is wrong, because 9 − 2 = 7.
The book’s own solution is this:
The solution the book prints below it: 8 − 2 = 6.
What was moved: one matchstick was taken from the 8 on the right — the short stick on its upper right side. That stick was put on the lower left side of the 9.
The 9 gains a stick on its lower left → it becomes 8
The 8 loses a stick from its upper right → it becomes 6
New equation: 8 − 2 = 6 — and that is correct.
Why only one stick can change two digits: A stick that leaves one digit must land somewhere. Here it lands on the other digit. So one move changes two numbers at the same time. That is the trick in every matchstick puzzle.
Tip: Count the sticks before and after. The 9 has 6 sticks and the 8 has 7 sticks, making 13. The new 8 has 7 and the new 6 has 6 — again 13. The total number of matchsticks never changes when you move one.
Q2.
Now, solve the following equation by moving one matchstick.The matchstick equation printed at the bottom of page 23. It reads 9 + 9 = 9.
Answer
The matchsticks read 9 + 9 = 9. That is wrong, because 9 + 9 = 18.
Answer: move one matchstick and make it 9 + 0 = 9.
The same sticks after you move one matchstick. The middle stick of the second digit has come down to its left side.
What to move: take the middle stick of the second 9 and put it down the left side of the same digit.
A 9 is made of 6 sticks: top, top-left, top-right, middle, bottom-right, bottom.
Move the middle stick to the lower left.
Now all four sides are closed and there is no middle bar → the digit reads 0.
New equation: 9 + 0 = 9 — and that is correct.
Why this works: Adding zero to a number does not change it. Nine sweets plus no sweets are still nine sweets. So 9 + 0 = 9 is a true number sentence.
Another correct answer: You may change the first 9 into a 0 in exactly the same way. Then the equation reads 0 + 9 = 9, which is also true. Both answers use just one move, so both are right.
Check it yourself: Count the sticks. Before the move: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18 sticks in the three digits. After the move: 6 + 6 + 6 = 18. Nothing was added and nothing was taken away — one stick simply changed its place.