Grade
3

Mobile Math: Shapely Chimes

Look at the mobile below. What do you notice? What do you wonder? What do you know?

A balanced mobile has 3 strings. The left string has 2 hexagons. The middle string has 2 trapezoids and 1 circle. The right string has 2 squares and 1 trapezoid. The hexagon has a value of 35. The values of the other shapes are unknown.

The mobile is balanced. All three strings have the same value. What is one set of possible values for the shapes?

If a trapezoid has a value of 24, and the value of the hexagon is still 35, what could the values of the other two shapes be? How do you know?

A balanced mobile has 3 strings. The left string has 2 hexagons. The middle string has 2 trapezoids and 1 circle. The right string has 2 squares and 1 trapezoid. The hexagon has a value of 35. The trapezoid has a value of 24. The values of the other shapes are unknown.

What is another possible value for the set of shapes?

A balanced mobiles has 3 strings. The left string has 2 hexagons. The middle string has 2 trapezoids and 1 circle. The right string has 2 squares and 1 trapezoid. The hexagon has a value of 35. The values of the other shapes are unknown.

Could the hexagons and the squares have the same value? How do you know?

Printable Version

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Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions