Balance When Adding and Subtracting
Curator: Robert Millett
Description: An applet to visually and symbolically display the concept of solving equations with integers and variables on both sides of an equation
Grade Level: grades 7 and 8
PSSM Content Standard: Algebra
CCSSM Content Standard: Grade 7 and 8 - Expressions and Equations
Math Content: Solving equations with variables on both sides (integer coefficients only)
Evaluation
(Eventually, all these questions should be addressed. For now (during Unit 4), you need only address the first three questions)
What is being learned? What mathematics is the focus of the activity/technology? Is relational or instrumental understanding emphasized?
This applet provides a visual representation of the adding and subtracting properties of equality. The user learns that the isolate the variable “x” one must add or subtract the same amount from both sides of an equation in order to keep the equation equal (in this case “balanced” like a scale). The applet aids the user in relating the addition and subtraction properties to the properties of an equation and therefore is focused on relational understanding.
How does learning take place? What are the underlying assumptions (explicit or implicit) about the nature of learning?
The learning happens as the user attempts to isolate the variable on the left side of the equation. The user is expected to understand the inverse property of addition in order to explore the applet.
What role does technology play? What advantages or disadvantages does the technology hold for this role? What unique contribution does the technology make in facilitating learning?
The applet provides a visual image to accompany the exploration of equations and variables. The advantages are that the user can manipulate the scale as much as they want in order to see what happens if they continue removing or adding values to the scales. The applet also provides the user with unlimited equations to work with. Some disadvantages are that it only uses integers and no rational values and also that the user must always isolate the variable on the left side of the equation. In addition, the applet does not show the multiplication and division properties of equality.
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