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Understand the Meaning of the Equal Sign

Students will learn that the equal sign means 'the same value as,' not 'the answer comes next.' Students will identify whether equations are true or false and recognize that both sides of an equation must represent the same quantity.

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Understand the Meaning of the Equal Sign

Grade 1 · Equations and the Equal Sign · question 1 of 3

0 of 12

12 rungs. A star at the top.

1 + 8 = 4 +

How it is taught

0:00 of 2:49

The equal sign means both sides match.

It does not mean write the answer next.

Read it: Make the pans match

4 cubes and 2 more sit on the left pan. 3 cubes sit on the right. You could write 6 after the equals — but the right pan still needs 3 more cubes to match.

  1. Count the cubes on the left pan: 4 + 2 = 6.
  2. Count the cubes already on the right pan: 3.
  3. Add 3 more so both pans hold 6: 4 + 2 = 3 + 3.

Writing 6 after the equals treats the sign as 'write the answer', and then the pans do not match.

A balance stays level only when both pans hold the same number of cubes.

The unknown is the cubes you still need on the light pan, not the total on the heavy one.

Both pans must hold the same number; the unknown is what makes them match.

Writing 6 after the equals because 4 + 2 is 6.

The equals sign means both pans weigh the same. The right pan already has 3, so it needs 3 more.

What does the = sign mean? — the same as. The = sign means both sides have the same value.

3 + 4 = 5 + 2

What does the equal sign really mean? Let's figure it out together.

Look at this: three plus four equals five plus two. Is that even true?

Let's count the left side. Three plus four makes seven.

Now the right side. Five plus two also makes seven.

Both sides are seven. They have the same value!

What does = mean?=It might surprise you!Is this true?Same value — TRUE!A common mix-up= means same value3+4=5+2= 7= 77 = 7TRUE ✓3+4=?"the answer goes here"✗ Not quite!Both sides match — they balance!REMEMBER=same value
Grade 1 · The equal sign means 'same value as'

So this equation is true. The equal sign shows that both sides match.

Some kids think the equal sign means 'the answer comes next.' That's a common mix-up.

The equal sign really means 'same value as' — like a balance scale that stays even.

Equals means same on both sides. Now you know the secret of the equal sign!

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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