lesson
Updated 1 month ago · 6 views
Have you ever played on a seesaw at the park? If you and a friend weigh the exact same, the seesaw stays perfectly flat in the middle.
A balance scale works the same way to compare amounts of things.
The Equal Sign Means 'Same As'
In math, the equal sign (=) tells us that the left side and the right side have the same amount.
📊Interactive diagram
Because both pans have 3 blocks, the scale is totally level and balanced.
What happens if one side gets more blocks than the other?
Tipping the Scale
When one side has more blocks, it drops down because it is heavier.
📊Interactive diagram
Since 5 is not the same as 2, this scale is not balanced.
Can we put blocks in groups and still keep the scale flat?