Lesson 3

Reasoning about Equations with Tape Diagrams

Let’s see how equations can describe tape diagrams.

3.1: Find Equivalent Expressions

Select all the expressions that are equivalent to \(7(2-3n)\). Explain how you know each expression you select is equivalent. 

  1. \(9-10n\)
  2. \(14-3n\)
  3. \(14-21n\)
  4. \((2-3n) \boldcdot 7\)
  5. \(7 \boldcdot 2 \boldcdot (\text- 3n)\)

3.2: Matching Equations to Tape Diagrams

Five tape diagrams, A, B, C, D, E.

 

  1. Match each equation to one of the tape diagrams. Be prepared to explain how the equation matches the diagram.
     
  2. Sort the equations into categories of your choosing. Explain the criteria for each category.
  • \(2x+5=19\)
  • \(2+5x=19\)
  • \(2(x+5)=19\)
  • \(5(x+2)=19\)
  • \(19=5+2x\)
  • \((x+5) \boldcdot 2=19\)
  • \(19=(x+2) \boldcdot 5\)
  • \(19 \div 2 = x+5\)
  • \(19-2=5x\)

3.3: Drawing Tape Diagrams to Represent Equations

  1. Draw a tape diagram to match each equation.

    1. \(114 = 3x + 18\)

       
    2. \(114 = 3(y + 18)\)

       

  2. Use any method to find values for \(x\) and \(y\) that make the equations true. 



To make a Koch snowflake:

  • Start with an equilateral triangle that has side lengths of 1. This is step 1.
  • Replace the middle third of each line segment with a small equilateral triangle with the middle third of the segment forming the base. This is step 2.
  • Do the same to each of the line segments. This is step 3.
  • Keep repeating this process.
Three figures.
  1. What is the perimeter after step 2? Step 3?
  2. What happens to the perimeter, or the length of line traced along the outside of the figure, as the process continues?

Summary

We have seen how tape diagrams represent relationships between quantities. Because of the meaning and properties of addition and multiplication, more than one equation can often be used to represent a single tape diagram.

Let’s take a look at two tape diagrams.

Tape diagram, one large part labeled 26, four small equal parts labeled x, total 46.

We can describe this diagram with several different equations. Here are some of them:

  • \(26 + 4x=46\), because the parts add up to the whole.
  • \(4x+26=46\), because addition is commutative.
  • \(46=4x+26\), because if two quantities are equal, it doesn’t matter how we arrange them around the equal sign.
  • \(4x=46-26\), because one part (the part made up of 4 \(x\)’s) is the difference between the whole and the other part.
Tape diagram, four equal parts labeled, x + 9, total 76.

For this diagram:

  • \(4(x+9)=76\), because multiplication means having multiple groups of the same size.
  • \((x+9)\boldcdot 4=76\), because multiplication is commutative.
  • \(76\div4=x+9\), because division tells us the size of each equal part.

Glossary Entries

  • equivalent expressions

    Equivalent expressions are always equal to each other. If the expressions have variables, they are equal whenever the same value is used for the variable in each expression.

    For example, \(3x+4x\) is equivalent to \(5x+2x\). No matter what value we use for \(x\), these expressions are always equal. When \(x\) is 3, both expressions equal 21. When \(x\) is 10, both expressions equal 70.