Mobile Math: Circles, Trapezoids & Hexagons

Look at the mobile below. What do you notice? What do you wonder?

This mobile is unbalanced between 2 sides. The left side is lighter than the right side. The left side has 1 string with 2 circles. The right side is balanced between 2 strings. The left string has 1 trapezoid. The right string has 3 hexagons.

What is one set of possible values for the shapes?

Getting Started

If the hexagon has a value of 3/4, what could the value of the other shapes be? How do you know?

Follow-up 1

What are other possible values for the set of shapes? What patterns or rules do you notice?

Follow-up 2

The left side of the mobile now has a total value of 1/3. If the right side of the mobile has a value less than 1, what are some possible values for the trapezoid and hexagon?

Printable Version

Reference for Educators