Virtual Balance Beam: Linear Equations
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives has created a virtual manipulative that allows students to solve linear equations through the use of a balance beam. Unit blocks represent numbers and X boxes represent the unknown X. The manipulatives are placed on the pans of a balance beam. Once the beam balances to represent the given linear equation, the student can choose to perform any operation, as long as the student does the same thing to both sides, thus keeping the beam balanced.
Solving Simple Sentences by Inspection
In this exercise, students practice solving sentences "by inspection".
That is, they are taught to look at the sentence, stop and think, and come up with a number that makes the sentence true.