Solve me mobiles

In grade 9 we looked at a new puzzle today. They are called solve me mobiles. We are working with logic to determine the values of each of the blocks so that the mobiles hang level.

We are calculating, guessing and checking…

Making diagrams is often helpful to model the problem

If we make an error, the mobile is not level anymore!

one key strategy we started using was to cross out elements that occur on two branches that hang level with each other. By doing so we can determine how many of one shape equal how many of another.

We are having fun (and developing our algebra skills without realizing it!)