The Fun Way to Learn Algebra: Hands-On Equations 1 Lite- Review

Lesson 1: In this lesson students are introduced to the concept of the equation as a balance scale – that the sides must be equal. It also teaches them to check their answer adding up the sums on each side of the equation do make sure they do balance with the value they have assigned to x. In this lesson the pawns cannot be moved, and the student is encouraged to use trial and error trying different values for x until they find the right answer. There is an auto check feature where the student can check their maths as the app will add up each side of the equation for them. My very logical nine-year-old found the idea of”guessing” to solve a maths question a tough idea – he felt he should know the right answer, but after I explained to him that how to solve it would be taught in later lessons he solved all the questions.

If your child is inspired by what they have learned in this app they  can purchase further lessons as in-app purchases or stand alone apps. Hands on Equations 1 is $4.99 and Hands on Equations 2 and 3 are $3.99 each. The paid apps have multiple user profiles, and contain more lessons to build on the principles taught in the lite version and to introduce more complex equations.

Now this is not an app with a lot of “bells and whistles”, it doesn’t have any built-in reward systems or fancy graphics, and sometimes the video quality is a little fuzzy. However, what is does is take a a branch of mathematics that many people find intimidating and turn it into a physical concept that is much easier to grasp.  I would recommend that it is done with parental input, at least at first, as they may need help with the idea of using trial and error in the first two lessons. My nine-year-old  found the first 2 lessons a little slow going, but was truly excited by the third lesson when he actually learnt how to solve equations such as 4x +3 = 3x +9, and is now enthusiastic about learning Algebra and can’t wait to start the next app. One improvement I would like to see is from lesson 2 onwards, when the students set up their own equations, some form of indicator that they have set it up correctly.

Overall, if you have a student who is struggling with Algebra, or a younger student (3rd grade up) who is interested in learning some more advanced mathematics, I would definitely recommend downloading this app. It does a good job of taking a complex subject  and  making it accessible to students by turning abstract concepts into physical objects. My nine-year-old (with no previous knowledge of algebra) is now solving algebraic equations thanks to this app, and what is more important, he is having fun doing so and wants to learn more.