Matching equations

Matching equations

Pencil and paper
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about writing number sentences that compare two expressions by using less than, greater than, or equal to.

Practical Task

You and a buddy will be given a pack of cards with number expressions on each card. You will also have cards with >, < and = on them.

  • Shuffle the pack of cards and place it face down between you.
  • The first player takes 2 cards from the pack.
  • Place the first card on the left and the second card on the right.
  • Choose the correct card from <, > or = to place in between the two cards to make the number sentence true, e.g.,  1 + 3 =  2 + 2
  • Read the number sentence to your buddy ("one plus three is equal to "two plus two").
  • Write the number sentence in the box provided:  1 + 3  <  2 + 2
  • Take turns until you each have five number sentences written down.
  • Swap sheets and check your buddy's work before handing to your teacher.
 
   
Number sentences Buddy check Teacher check
1.
 
 		    
2.
 
 
    
3.
 
 		    
4.
 
 		    
5.
 
 		    
 
 
 

Number expression cards

2+7

6-2

9+3

10+5

6 + 5

8 + 8

14 - 7

6 + 7

11 + 6

3 + 7

2 + 6

7 + 9

6 + 6

20 - 2

4 + 7

6 + 4

9 + 6

1 + 3

5 + 4

16 - 8

15 - 2

12 + 5

9 + 9

4 + 3

 

=

<

>
Task administration: 
This task is completed with pencil and paper only.
 
Equipment
Packs of number expression cards and <, > and = cards, one recording sheet per child
  • Children work in pairs to complete the activity.
  • Each pair needs a pack of number sentence cards and the <, >, = cards, and their own recording sheet.
  • You may like to read through the instructions and/or model the activity to students.
Level:
2
Curriculum info: 
Maths, Number and Algebra, Equations and expressions
Keywords: 
equality, greater than, less than, equal to
Description of task: 
Students decide whether pairs of number expressions are equal to, less than, or greater than each other.
Learning Progression Frameworks
This resource can provide evidence of learning associated with
Using symbols and expressions to think mathematically, set 3
within the Mathematics Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Read more about the Learning Progressions Frameworks.
Answers/responses: 
All 5 relationships correctly identified.

4 relationships correctly identified.

 2 marks
or
1 mark
Diagnostic and formative information: 
This resource explores the concept of equality through identifying pairs of number expressions that are equal and not equal (i.e. greater than or less than).

As it is more likely that randomly selected pairs of number sentences will not be equal, challenge students to lay the number sentence cards out, face up, and find pairs that are equal.

This activity could lead to, or lead from, an exploration of and discussion about, the meaning of the equals sign.  Students often believe the equals sign means "and the answer is".  By providing them with number sentences presented in ways other than a + b = c, students can begin learning that the equals sign also means "is the same as". This resource can be used in this way by having students state "15 – 2 is the same as 6 + 7".

For further information on the ideas surrounding equality, refer to the Algebraic thinking concept map.

Next steps: 
Exposing students to a variety of ways in which number sentences can be written, e.g., 5 = 4 + 1,
6 = 6, 9 = 1 + 3 + 5 etc. can also help students see that the equals sign does not always come at the end of the number sentence. Cuisenaire number sentences is a practical activity that can be used to reinforce the ideas of equality and also representing number sentences in alternative forms.  For further information and examples of student generated number sentences, refer to the Algebraic thinking concept map.

Students need to understand that the expression on the left-hand side of the equals sign represents the same quantity as the expression on the right-hand side of the equals sign.  Initiating a discussion about the meaning of the equals sign is a starting point in coming to understand this concept.  Resource What is equal? uses true/false number sentences to generate discussion about the meaning of the equals sign.

The idea of equality meaning balance can be introduced using simple balance pans and blocks, which can lead on to solving simple problems presented as open number sentences.  See Balance pans for balance pan ideas and Equal number sentences for open number sentences.

Students could also be introduced to the concept of "not equals" and the ≠ sign which would replace the < and > signs.