Equation - Analogous Illustration

Analogous Illustration

The analogy often presented is a weighing scale, balance, seesaw, or the like.

Each side of the balance corresponds to each side of the equation. Different quantities can be placed on each side, if they are equal the balance corresponds to an equality (equation), if not then an inequality.

In the illustration, x, y and z are all different quantities (in this case real numbers) represented as circular weights, each of x, y, z has a different weight. Addition corresponds to adding weight, subtraction corresponds to removing weight from what is already placed on. The total weight on each side is the same.

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