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1st grade · Math · Unit 5 of 14

Equal or Not

Same or not the same?

What your child practices

Learning that = means "the same amount as" (not just "the answer is"), and using ≠ when two sides are different.

Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards benchmark: 1.3.6.2 · deciding whether addition and subtraction equations are true or false

How we explain it

Children can open this short lesson before they practice.

  1. The = sign means both sides are the same amount.
  2. Work out one side first.
  3. Then find what the other side needs.

Example: 3 + 4 = 5 + ? 3 + 4 is 7. 5 + 2 is 7, so ? is 2. Answer: 2

Equal or Not in Minnesota

In the Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards, this is unit 5 of 14 in 1st grade Math, after Take Away and before Measuring.

Gradelings describes a child's practice on this unit as Beginning, Approaching, Meeting or Exceeding (Four practice steps). That reflects practice, not a report-card mark: the teacher decides the mark.

Source: Minnesota Department of Education (MDE)

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sign goes in the box?

    10 + 5 17

    • =
    • ≠

  2. Question 2

    Is this number sentence true?

    6 + 10 = 16

    • No, it's not true
    • Yes, it's true

  3. Question 3

    Is 5 + 9 the same as 2 + 12?

    • Yes, equal (=)
    • No, not equal (≠)

  4. Question 4

    Is 9 + 7 the same as 6 + 9?

    • No, not equal (≠)
    • Yes, equal (=)

  5. Question 5

    Are there the same number of 🍎 and 🍐?

    Let's compare

    apples
    🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎
    pears
    🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐🍐

    Each picture = 1

    • No, not equal (≠)
    • Yes, equal (=)

  6. Question 6

    Which sign goes in the box?

    4 + 2 7

    • =
    • ≠

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