Grade
4

Mobile Math: Balance It Out

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

This mobile is balanced between 2 sides. The left side has 1 string with 2 circles. The right side is unbalanced between 2 strings. Its left string is lighter than the right string and has 3 triangles. The right string has 2 squares. The values of the shapes are unknown.

What is one set of possible values for the shapes?

  • If a circle has a value of 50, what could the value of the other shapes be? How do you know?
  • What equations or comparison statements can you write about this mobile?

What are other possible values for the set of shapes? What patterns or rules do you notice?

The right side of the mobile was unbalanced. What values can you give the shapes to balance the mobile?

This mobile is balanced between 2 sides. The left side has 1 string with 2 circles. The right side is balanced between 2 strings. Its left string has 3 triangles. The right string has 2 squares. The values of the shapes are unknown.
Printable Version

Google doc for printing and copying

Seesaw Version

Activity for the Seesaw platform

Reference for Educators

Sample problems and solutions