Input and Output: The Magic Muffin Machine
In Millie’s Kitchen, Grandma Bea has built the Magic Muffin Machine! You drop muffins into the funnel (the input), the machine follows its rule, and more muffins slide out of the chute (the output).
Remember: The rule does the same thing to every input. If the rule is add 4, then 5 goes in and 9 comes out. To go backwards from an output, do the opposite: take away 4.
Magic trick: To find a machine’s rule, test your idea on every pair, not just the first one. 2 → 6 could be add 4 or times 3: only the next pair can tell you which!
Seek and Find
Look carefully at the picture of Grandma Bea’s Magic Muffin Machine and find:
- 🧺 Find the basket by the funnel. 2 muffins are waiting to go in: that’s the input.
- 🧁 Find the tray under the chute. 2 rows of 3 = 6 muffins came out: the output. Was the rule add 4 or times 3? Both turn 2 into 6, so you need another pair to be sure!
- 🫙 Find the sprinkle jars on the shelf. Count them: 3 jars of sprinkles.
- 🐱 Millie and her kitten Biscuit are hiding in every picture. Can you spot them?