I have been having fun solving linear equations using magnatiles! Magnatiles are great for “writing” equations. We stick numbers and mathematical symbols to them like in the picture below. However, there is a trick. The plus (+) sign has a minus (-) sign behind it and vice-versa! So, when we want to move a quantity to the other side of the equation, we just need to flip the magnatile. The same idea applies to times (x) and division (/).
Below, I am solving the equation 9-(x+1)=3+(x-1). Magnatiles allow for creating blocks. So, the first step to solve this equation is to “write” +9 -(+x+1) = + 3 +(+x-1). The second step is to “take out” the parenthesis by distributing the sign before it. For example, in the case below, -(+x+1) becomes -+x -+1, and then we know that ++ is +, – – is also +, – + and + – are both -. The third step involves rearranging terms so that all the ones with x stay on the same side of the equation. From there, it is very easy to find the value of x.