Friday, April 26, 2013

Fun Finds: Math Scale!

As a math instructor, I totally love this baby!  It's a vintage math teaching tool set up like a little scale.



Sweet 1950's kid graphics always make stuff more fun!

"Add-A-Count"  I love it!


Here you can see the base of the scale is marked off as "Right" or "Wrong."  That's not a moral judgement, mind you, but speaks to the accuracy of your math.

Dare you face the judgement of the Add-A-Count???

Only when there is balance is there also right.

You can put as many numbers as you want on either side of the scale to perform your calculations, but there's a catch!



Each letter is weighted a little differently, and the scale will only balance when the total on each side is the same.

Let's start with a seven.

TILT!


Now let's add a four.



Now a two.  Still not balanced.





But, if I add a one, then everything is hunky-dory!



7 = 4 +2 +1

That is right.  

Balance Restored!
The scale has spoken!

Let all heed the Add-A-Count!

4 comments:

Lynn said...

Now, that is totally cool and cute too! I bet it doesn't stay in one of your booths for long! Have a good weekend!

Shara said...

That things is crazy cool. Is it a keeper or to the booth?

Unknown said...

So cute and retro yet fun to learn with. A great find!

Shara said...

I had to come find this post today - I bought 24 of these at a sale this morning because I remembered seeing this on your blog! A fun Saturday find!