Keep It Balanced

This lesson is the first of a sequence of eight lessons where students learn to work with equations that have variables on each side. In this lesson, students recall a representation that they have seen in prior grades: the balanced hanger.

By Desmos Classroom

Learning goals: Learning Goals • Calculate the weight of an unknown object using a hanger diagram, and explain the solution method. • Understand that adding and removing equal items from each side of a hanger diagram or multiplying and dividing items on each side of the hanger by the same amount are moves that keep the hanger balanced. Materials • Blank paper