Pre-Algebra Lesson 13 Objectives

1. The idea of inverse operations 2. Balancing equations 3. Solving simple one step equations

Materials and Handouts 1. If possible, this lesson can be demonstrated with an actual balance scale. 2. Balance scale 3. Small brown paper bags 4. A lot of small colorful blocks of equal mass

Homework

5-10 Go over homework. minutes Instruction over solving equations 1. Have them do exercise 1 as a warm up while I look over and correct their homework. They should find that (c), (e), (f), (h) and (j) cant be solved using backtracking. The other method they can use is guess and check 2. Discuss the fact that we need a better way to solve algebra equations if theres more than one variable. In fact, we need a more efficient method overall because drawing the flow charts is a little tiring. 3. Go through each of the exercises with them discussing that to keep the balance scale balanced, whatever we do to one side, we have to do to the other. Our main goal is to get the shape all by itself on one side so that we can see how much it weighs. 4. If possible, we can actually demonstrate each problem using an actual balance with paper bags. You fold up an empty paper bag and put it on one side of the balance, then fill the other with the number of blocks the variable represents. Then you put extra blocks on the sides depending on whats added on the outside of the variable. 1.

Pre-Algebra Lesson 13

Name:_______________ Date:_________

More Advanced Solving Equations Class Work

Exercise 1: A solution to an equation means you find the value that a variable represents. Youve already learned one way to solve (or find a solution to) an equation using a flow chart. Take a look at the following problems. Identify which problems you can solve with a flow chart. If you cant solve it with a flow chart, write NP under the problem. If you can solve it with a flow chart, go ahead and solve. (a) (e)

(f) (b)

(g) (c)

(h) (d) ( )

(i)

) (j)

(k) Can you tell just by looking at the equation whether or not using a flow chart can work? How can you tell?

(l) Think of another method for solving the equations you wrote NP under (hint: its the method you would have tried before you learned about backtracking). Solve one equation using this method.

Exercise 2: A good way to solve equations is to think about what the equal sign means. All an equal sign means is that whatever is on the left hand side has the same value as whatever is on the right side. As long as the left hand side and the right hand side continue to have the same value the equality stays true. Something in the real world that simulates this idea is the balance scale. The two arms of a balance scale stay level with each other as long as the weight on the left is the same as the weight on the right. Lets use this idea to help us figure out the following problems. (1) Consider the balance scale below: (2) Consider the balance scale below:

a. Write an equation that represents this scale. b. Find the weight of the brown square.

a. Write an equation that represents this scale. b. Find the weight of the green square.

(3) This gives us an important property of balances Addition and Subtraction Property of Balances As long as the two arms of a balance stay level, were happy. This means we know the left side has the same value as the right side. If we want to ___________ or ___________ from one side of a balance scale we have to __________or __________ the same amount from the other side to keep the scale balanced.

(4) Consider the balance scale below:

a. Write an equation that represents this a. Write an equation that represents this scale. b. Find the weight of one purple b. Find the weight of the pink ball. (5) Consider the balance scale below: (6) This gives us a second important property of balances Multiplication and Division Property of Balances As long as the two arms of a balance stay level, were happy. This means we know the left side has the same value as the right side. If we want to ___________ or ___________ from one side of a balance scale we have to __________or __________ the same amount from the other side to keep the scale balanced. Exercise 3: Lets try solving some balance problems that use both properties at once. Well reason through each problem with a balance scale and well talk about how to set it up with algebra (1) Consider the balance shown below: pentagon. scale.

a. Write the equation that represents this scale.

(2) Consider the balance shown below:

b. Find the weight of a green rectangle by using the two properties above to get one green rectangle by itself. Show EVERY step.

a. Write the equation that represents this scale.

b. Find the weight of a pink square by using the two properties above to get

one pink square by itself. Show EVERY step.

(4) Consider the balance shown below: (3) Consider the balance shown below: a. Write the equation that represents this scale. a. Write the equation that represents this scale. b. Find the weight of a pink oval by using the two properties above to get one b. Find the weight of a green square by using the two properties above to get one green square by itself. Show EVERY step. pink oval by itself. Show EVERY step.

Exercise 4: This way of solving equations is much more flexible than the flow chart method because it lets us tackle problems that have variables on both sides of the equal sign. When there are Variables on Both Sides If there are unknown shapes on both sides, use this trick: Take away the same amount of unknown shapes from both sides. The scale WILL continue to balance. from Take away two diamonds both sides. Then we see

that three diamonds weigh 15.

(1) For the scale below:

(3) For the scale below:

a. Write the equation

a. Write the equation

b. Solve the equation by finding the weight of a single shape.

b. Solve the equation by finding the weight of a single shape.

(2) For the scale below:

(4) For the scale below:

c. Write the equation

c. Write the equation

d. Solve the equation by finding the weight of a single shape.

d. Solve the equation by finding the weight of a single shape.

Pre-Algebra

Name:_______________

Lesson 13

Date:_________

More Advanced Equations Homework

Solve each of the following balance puzzles. 1. 3.

a. Write the equation for this puzzle

a. Write the equation for this puzzle

b. Solve the equation for the weight of a red sphere by using the two properties of balances.

b. Solve the equation for the weight of a yellow cube by using the two properties of balances.

2. k

4.

a. Write the equation for this puzzle

a. Write the equation for this puzzle

b. Solve the equation for the weight of a blue sphere by using the two properties of balances.

b. Solve the equation for the weight of a blue cone by using the two properties of balances.

5. Draw a balance picture of each of the following equations and then solve the equation. a. plus 1. . Or in words: three triangles plus 6 weighs the same as 4 triangles

b.

. Or in words: 2 circles plus 5 weighs the same as 3 circles plus 2

c.

. Or in words: 2 grams less than 3 hearts worth of weight weigs the same as 2 hearts worth plus 3 grams.

d.

. Or in words: 5 diamonds plus 1 gram weighs the same as 2 diamonds plus 5 grams (Hint: answer will be a fraction of a gram.)