### Homes

There are to be 6 homes built on a new development site. They could be semi-detached, detached or terraced houses. How many different combinations of these can you find?

### Number Squares

Start with four numbers at the corners of a square and put the total of two corners in the middle of that side. Keep going... Can you estimate what the size of the last four numbers will be?

### I'm Eight

Find a great variety of ways of asking questions which make 8.

# Getting the Balance

## Getting the Balance

Here we have a balance for you to work on:

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It is a number balance, sometimes it's called a "Balance Bar" and sometimes an "Equalizer".
It has weights like these;
These weights are hung below the numerals. It balances equal amounts, for example, with $10$ on one side and $2$ and $8$ on the other we have;
If you like this idea try "Number Balance ", then return here.

Now this challenge is about getting the balance.

Rule : All the while you can only have one weight at each numeral on the balance.

Let's start by saying that on one side of the balance, place two weights and keep them there. Make it balance by placing $3$ weights on the other side (remember only one at each numeral!).

So you might start with an $8$ and a $3$ on one side, and find you have to have something like these for it to balance:

So choose your two places on one side and find many different balance places on the other side.

When you've done all you can, it might be an idea to choose another (maybe higher) pair of numbers for one side and find all the ways of placing $3$ weights on the other side.

Are you recording your results? If so, how?

### Why do this problem?

This activity sets the scene for some important algebraic ideas. It shows that if three unknowns have a particular total, there are potentially different possibilities for these unknowns. As well as giving children practice in addition and subtraction, this problem could be used as a focus for introducing the idea of working systematically.

### Possible approach

It would be good to have the balance up on the interactive whiteboard and, with the class watching, put a weight on the $10$ on the left-hand side and a weight on the $8$ on the right-hand side. Ask them to talk in pairs about what will happen when you put a weight on the $2$ on the right-hand side. Share some ideas, in particular their reasons for their predictions, then test them out on the interactivity. Repeat this a few times, with different numbers of weights on each side until you feel as if the children are happy with the set-up.

Challenge them to investigate the problem, preferably with pairs working at a computer. Alternatively, you may have "real" balances so that you do not need to use the computer for long periods of time. After inviting children to try out some ideas, it would be good to spend some time talking to the group about how they are finding solutions and what they are recording. You may want to draw attention to any systems that the children are using which help them find all possibilities. For example, they might keep one weight the same on the right hand side and find all combinations that can go with it; then increase this fixed weight to the next one along and find all combinations etc. You may find that some children are not using the balance itself and are just recording on paper.

### Key questions

Where are you going to hang the weights on the left-hand side?
What will you need to hang on the right-hand side?
Can you find another weight to balance them with the same weights on the left?
How will you know you have found all the possibilities?
How are you recording what you've done?

### Possible extension

Ask the pupils what they think the total of the two weights on the left would be to give the biggest number of possibilities for rearrangements on the right-hand side. How do they know and how could they prove this? Learners could be challenged to find all the different ways that two weights can balance two weights. Alternatively, children could investigate what happens if you are allowed to have three weights, but any two weights may be on one numeral.

### Possible support

It might help if children record each possibility on a different strip of paper. Once they have found a few for a particular pair of weights on the left, you could help them order the strips which would reveal any gaps.