In this activity, students create equivalent expressions to given expressions. Students are encouraged to be creative in their answers, but should ensure that the new expressions are equivalent to the original. This work prepares students for writing equivalent equations in later activities.
Arrange students in groups of 2.
Display for all to see: 100,100⋅1,98+1+1,3−1200. Ask students what they notice. Move to the task when students notice that all the expressions are equivalent to 100.
For the task, encourage students to be creative, but check with their partner that their expressions are still equivalent to the original. Tell students to try to give examples that they think nobody else in the class has written.
Write as many equivalent expressions for each as you have time.
Sample responses:
Invite 3–5 students to share examples that they have written for each expression. After each example, ask if other students can explain how it is equivalent to the original.