Stable Scales

A Maths Starter of The Day

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Find the weight of a pineapple, a tomatoe, a lemon and an orange

[Teacher: You can drag the fruit on and off the scales should you need to explain the balance method of solving equations. The reset button below will return the fruit to their original positions. For more randomly generated balance puzzles see Stable Scales Quiz]

Reset Items

Starter of The Day Transum Mathematics Topics


Topics: Starter | Algebra

  • Transum,
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  • Solving problems like this has been an activity used for many years to introduce students to the methods used for solving simple linear equations. It is a good analogy for developing the notion of ‘doing the same to both sides’ to keep the equation balanced.
  • Sycamore Class, Buckfastleigh Primary, Devon
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  • This challenge helped our class to use our brains first thing in the morning and we even managed to solve the problem. Year 5.
  • Mrs Clay's Maths Set, St Helens ,, Pontefract
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  • We really enjoyed this starter. It was a good introduction to algebra.
  • Mrs Leslie, Cults Academy
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  • The graphics are (as usual) very high quality. It would be amazing to have an interactive version of this (showing one balance at a time) that pupils could select what to remove from each side, then click a button to see those items go, maintaining the balance (or tip, if they've got it wrong), leading them to a step by step approach to solving / showing working, rather than just 'here's the answer' approach. Would be a brilliant teaching aid!

    [Transum: Good idea, I'll put it on the 'To do' list. Thanks]

How did you use this starter? Can you suggest how teachers could present or develop this resource? Do you have any comments? It is always useful to receive feedback and helps make this free resource even more useful for Maths teachers anywhere in the world.
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Previous Day | This starter is for 21 November | Next Day

 

Answers

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Extension

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Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit Fruit

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What number does the question mark represent?

Online Maths Shop
Laptops In Lessons

Teacher, do your students have access to computers?
Do they have iPads or Laptops in Lessons?

Whether your students each have a TabletPC, a Surface or a Mac, this activity lends itself to eLearning (Engaged Learning).

Laptops In Lessons

Here a concise URL for a version of this page without the comments.

Transum.org/go/?Start=November21

Here is the URL which will take them to a related student activity.

Transum.org/go/?to=scales

Student Activity

 

Solving linear equations

Recognise that there are many different types of equations of which linear is one type.

Understand that in an equation the two sides of the 'equals' sign balance.

Understand that a solution is a value that makes the two sides of an equation balance.

Understand that a family of linear equations can all have the same solution.

Solve a linear equation requiring a single additive step.

Solve a linear equation requiring a single multiplicative step.

Understand that an equation needs to be in a format to be 'ready' to be solved, through collecting like terms on each side of the equation.

Know that when an additive step and a multiplicative step are required, the order of operations will not affect the solution.

Recognise that equations with unknowns on both sides of the equation can be manipulated so that the unknowns are on one side.

The above table showing the steps that might be taken in teaching linear equations is from the NCETM Non-statutory guidance for the national curriculum in England and has been reproduced here under the Open Government Licence.

Curriculum Reference

See the National Curriculum page for links to related online activities and resources.

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