Students begin the lesson by questioning what it means for an equation to be true or not true. They expand their understanding of equations by considering the assumption that equations are always true. Students learn that a variable is a letter that stands in for a number. They also learn that a solution of the equation is a value of the variable that makes the equation true. They find solutions to equations by using tape diagrams or reasoning about the meaning of solution once an equation is written. This lesson also introduces "next to" notation (for example, 10m means 10•m).

Grade 6, Episode 11: Unit 6, Lesson 2 | Illustrative Math