PAN BALANCE - NUMBERS

Use this tool to strengthen understanding and computation of numerical expressions and equality. In understanding equality, one of the first things students must realize is that equality is a relationship, not an operation. Many students view "=" as "find the answer." For these students, it is difficult to understand equations such as 11 = 4 + 7 or 3 × 5 = 17 – 2. Two other tools, Pan Balance – Expressions and Pan Balance – Shapes, are natural extensions.