Elementary School Math Quiz: The Equals Sign
20 questions · exam conditions
0:00
The Equals SignQuestion 1 of 20

Are both sides of 3+5=9−13 + 5 = 9 - 1 equal?

Yes
No
Only the left side equals 88
Only the right side equals 88
← Back to quizzes

Elementary School Math Quiz

Elementary School Math Quiz: The Equals Sign

Practice The Equals Sign in Elementary School Math with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on The Equals Sign, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for Elementary School Math.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Are both sides of 3+5=9−13 + 5 = 9 - 1 equal?

  1. Yes (correct answer)
  2. No
  3. Only the left side equals 88
  4. Only the right side equals 88
Explanation: 3+53+5 equals 8 and 9−19-1 also equals 8, so both sides are equal. Saying no ignores that both sides come out to the same value. Saying only the left side equals 8 is incorrect, since the right side equals 8 too. Saying only the right side equals 8 is incorrect for the same reason. Since both sides equal 8, the answer is yes.

Question 2

Are both sides of 5+2=4+35 + 2 = 4 + 3 equal?

  1. No, because both sides have plus signs
  2. Yes (correct answer)
  3. No
  4. Yes, because 5+2=65+2=6
Explanation: 5+25+2 equals 7 and 4+34+3 also equals 7, so both sides are equal. Saying no because both sides have plus signs isn't a valid reason, since having plus signs doesn't determine equality. Saying no ignores that both sides come out to the same value. Saying yes because 5+2=65+2=6 uses an incorrect sum, since 5+25+2 actually equals 7. Since both sides equal 7, the answer is yes.

Question 3

Is this equation true or false: 14=9+514 = 9 + 5?

  1. False
  2. True (correct answer)
  3. False, because 9+5=139 + 5 = 13
  4. True, because == means "write the answer"
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 14 = 9 + 5, both sides equal 14, so it's true. The problem presents the equation 14 = 9 + 5 to evaluate. Choice B is correct because 14 = 9 + 5 simplifies to 14=14, so both sides are the same—the equation is true. Choice C is a common error where students don't recognize 14=9+5 as valid and think of a different calculation like 9+5=14 but misapply it; this happens because students need to see many varied equation structures. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 4

Is this equation true or false: 6=66=6?

  1. True (correct answer)
  2. False
  3. You cannot have == with no ++ or −-
  4. False because there is no answer after ==
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, the left side equals 7 and the right side equals 7, so both sides are the same—the equation is TRUE. In 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, the left side equals 5 and the right side equals 7, so they're different—the equation is FALSE. The problem presents the equation 6=6. Choice A is correct because 6=6 is TRUE since both sides are 6. Choice C is a common error where students don't recognize 6=6 as valid because they think equations must have operations on left and numbers on right, which happens because the relational meaning of = is abstract. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 5

Which equations are true?

  1. 7=87 = 8
  2. 5+2=4+25 + 2 = 4 + 2
  3. 6+1=8−16 + 1 = 8 - 1 (correct answer)
  4. 9−3=79 - 3 = 7
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 7 = 8 - 1, both sides equal 7, so it's true, but in 7 = 8, 7 ≠ 8, so it's false. The problem presents several equations to evaluate and asks which are true. Choice C is correct because 6 + 1 = 8 - 1 simplifies to 7=7, so both sides are the same—the equation is true. Choice A is a common error where students don't compute both sides and just assume simple numbers like 7=8 are true, but 7 ≠ 8, so it's false; this happens because the relational meaning of = is abstract. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 6

Is this equation true or false: 5+2=2+55 + 2 = 2 + 5?

  1. False
  2. True (correct answer)
  3. False, because the numbers are in a different order
  4. True, because == means "the answer comes next"
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, both sides equal 7, so it's true, but in 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, 5 ≠ 7, so it's false. The problem presents the equation 5 + 2 = 2 + 5 to evaluate. Choice B is correct because 5 + 2 = 2 + 5 simplifies to 7=7, so both sides are the same—the equation is true (commutative property). Choice C is a common error where students think equations are false if the numbers are in a different order, but order doesn't matter in addition as long as values match; this happens because students often learn equations only as 'operation = answer' format. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 7

Is this equation true or false: 5+2=2+55+2=2+5?

  1. False (the numbers are in a different order)
  2. True (correct answer)
  3. False
  4. True (because the answer must be on the right)
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, the left side equals 7 and the right side equals 7, so both sides are the same—the equation is TRUE. In 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, the left side equals 5 and the right side equals 7, so they're different—the equation is FALSE. The problem presents the equation 5+2=2+5. Choice B is correct because 5+2=2+5 is TRUE because both sides equal 7 (commutative property). Choice A is a common error where students think 5+2=2+5 is false because the numbers are in different order, which happens because the relational meaning of = is abstract. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 8

Is this equation true or false: 8=5+38=5+3?

  1. False (it is backwards)
  2. True (correct answer)
  3. False
  4. True (because == means add)
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, the left side equals 7 and the right side equals 7, so both sides are the same—the equation is TRUE. In 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, the left side equals 5 and the right side equals 7, so they're different—the equation is FALSE. The problem presents the equation 8=5+3. Choice B is correct because 8=5+3 is TRUE because 5+3=8, and 8=8. Choice A is a common error where students think the equal sign means 'the answer comes next' so they incorrectly judge equations like 8=5+3 as false because it's 'backwards,' which happens because students often learn equations only as 'operation = answer' format. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 9

Which equation is true?

  1. 12=10+112 = 10 + 1
  2. 6−2=56 - 2 = 5
  3. 7+3=97 + 3 = 9
  4. 11=6+511 = 6 + 5 (correct answer)
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 11 = 6 + 5, both sides equal 11, so it's true, but in 12 = 10 + 1, 12 ≠ 11, so it's false. The problem presents several equations to evaluate and asks which one is true. Choice D is correct because 11 = 6 + 5 simplifies to 11=11, so both sides are the same—the equation is true. Choice A is a common error where students make calculation errors, like thinking 10 + 1 = 12 instead of 11, leading to incorrectly seeing it as true. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 10

Is this equation true or false: 9=10−19 = 10 - 1?

  1. TRUE (correct answer)
  2. FALSE
  3. True, only sometimes
  4. False, they don't match
Explanation: Since 10−110-1 equals 9, the equation 9=10−19=10-1 is true. Saying false ignores that both sides equal the same number. Saying true only sometimes doesn't make sense, since 10−110-1 always equals 9. Saying they don't match is incorrect, since 9 and 10−110-1 are the same value. The equation is true because both sides equal 9.

Question 11

Which equation is false?

  1. 14−4=1014 - 4 = 10
  2. 11=5+611 = 5 + 6
  3. 6+3=86 + 3 = 8 (correct answer)
  4. 9=99 = 9
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 6 + 3 = 9, it's true, but in 6 + 3 = 8, left is 9 and right is 8, so false. The problem presents several equations to evaluate and asks which is false. Choice C is correct because 6 + 3 = 8 is false since 6+3=9 and 9 ≠ 8. Choice A is a common error where students make subtraction errors in 14-4. This happens because evaluating both sides requires accurate computation. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; include mixed operations; provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values).

Question 12

Is this equation true or false: 12−3=1012 - 3 = 10?

  1. True
  2. False (correct answer)
  3. True, because 12−3=812-3=8
  4. False, because the left side has a minus sign
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 12 - 3 = 9, both sides equal 9, so it's true, but in 12 - 3 = 10, left is 9 and right is 10, so it's false. The problem presents the equation 12 - 3 = 10. Choice B is correct because it's false since 12-3=9 and 9 ≠ 10. Choice C is a common error where students make calculation errors like thinking 12-3=8. This happens because subtraction can be tricky and students may miscount. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; include subtraction examples; provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values).

Question 13

Is this equation true or false: 4+1=3+24 + 1 = 3 + 2?

  1. False
  2. True (correct answer)
  3. False, because both sides must have the same numbers.
  4. True, because the right side is the answer.
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 4 + 1 = 3 + 2, left is 5 and right is 5, so it's true, but in 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, it's 5 = 7, false. The problem presents the equation 4 + 1 = 3 + 2. Choice B is correct because 4 + 1 = 3 + 2 is true since both sides equal 5. Choice C is a common error where students think both sides must have the same numbers, not realizing different expressions can have the same value. This happens because students need to see many varied equation structures. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a + b = c + d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; show how 4 + 1 = 3 + 2 is true (both 5); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 14

Is this equation true or false: 8=5+38 = 5 + 3?

  1. True (correct answer)
  2. False
  3. False, because the answer must be on the right
  4. True, because 5+3=105+3=10
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 5 + 2 = 7, both sides equal 7, so it's true, but in 4 + 1 = 6, left is 5 and right is 6, so it's false. The problem presents the equation 8 = 5 + 3. Choice A is correct because 8 = 8 is true since both sides are 8 after computing 5 + 3. Choice C is a common error where students think the equal sign means 'the answer comes next' so they incorrectly judge equations like 8=5+3 as false because it's 'backwards.' This happens because students often learn equations only as 'operation = answer' format. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that equations like 8=5+3 are valid.

Question 15

What does the equal sign mean in 4+3=74 + 3 = 7?

  1. It means add the numbers.
  2. It means both sides have the same value. (correct answer)
  3. It means the answer is on the right side.
  4. It means subtract the numbers.
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 4 + 3 = 7, both sides equal 7, so it's true. The problem asks what the equal sign means in the equation 4 + 3 = 7. Choice B is correct because the equal sign means both sides have the same value. Choice C is a common error where students think the equal sign means 'the answer comes next' so they incorrectly judge equations like 7=4+3 as false because it's 'backwards'; this happens because students often learn equations only as 'operation = answer' format. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 16

Which equation is false?

  1. 10=1010 = 10
  2. 8−3=58 - 3 = 5
  3. 6+2=96 + 2 = 9 (correct answer)
  4. 7=7+07 = 7 + 0
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 6 + 2 = 9, 8 ≠ 9, so it's false, but in 10=10, it's true. The problem presents several equations to evaluate and asks which one is false. Choice C is correct because 6 + 2 = 9 simplifies to 8=9, so the sides are different—the equation is false. Choice A is a common error where students don't recognize 10=10 as valid because there are no operations, but it's true since both sides are the same. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 17

Is this equation true or false: 7=7+07 = 7 + 0?

  1. False, because you cannot add after an equals sign
  2. True, because adding 00 does not change a number (correct answer)
  3. False, because both sides must show the exact same numbers
  4. True, but only if the 00 comes first
Explanation: Adding 0 to 7 doesn't change its value, so 7=7+07=7+0 is true. Saying you cannot add after an equals sign is a rule that doesn't actually apply here. Saying both sides must show identical numbers ignores that 7+07+0 still equals 7. Saying it's only true if the 0 comes first misunderstands that order doesn't matter when adding 0. The equation is true because adding 0 always keeps a number the same.

Question 18

Which equations are true?

  1. 8=4+48 = 4 + 4 and 3+2=4+23 + 2 = 4 + 2
  2. 10=1010 = 10 and 7=9−27 = 9 - 2 (correct answer)
  3. 6−1=3+16 - 1 = 3 + 1 and 12=6+712 = 6 + 7
  4. 5+3=95 + 3 = 9 and 11=10−111 = 10 - 1
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 10 = 10, both sides are 10, so it's true, and in 7 = 9 - 2, 9 - 2 is 7, so 7 = 7 is true. The problem presents pairs of equations and asks which are true, meaning both in the pair must be true. Choice B is correct because 10 = 10 is true (both sides 10) and 7 = 9 - 2 is true (9 - 2 = 7, so 7 = 7). Choice A is a common error where students make calculation errors, like thinking 3 + 2 = 4 + 2 is true, but 5 ≠ 6. This happens because evaluating both sides requires computing each independently and students may rush. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a + b = c, c = a + b, a = a, a + b = c + d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that simple equations like 10 = 10 are valid; provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 19

What does the equal sign mean in 3+4=73+4=7?

  1. It means the answer comes next.
  2. It means add the numbers.
  3. It means both sides have the same value. (correct answer)
  4. It means subtract the numbers.
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal. For example, in 5 + 2 = 2 + 5, the left side equals 7 and the right side equals 7, so both sides are the same—the equation is TRUE. In 4 + 1 = 5 + 2, the left side equals 5 and the right side equals 7, so they're different—the equation is FALSE. The problem asks about the meaning of the equal sign in the equation 3+4=7. Choice C is correct because the equal sign means both sides have the same value. Choice A is a common error where students think the equal sign means 'the answer comes next' so they incorrectly judge varied formats, which happens because students often learn equations only as 'operation = answer' format. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'

Question 20

Are both sides of 3+4=2+53 + 4 = 2 + 5 equal?

  1. Yes (correct answer)
  2. No
  3. No, because there must be an answer after ==
  4. Yes, because the left side has more numbers
Explanation: This question tests 1st grade understanding of the equal sign and evaluating equations as true or false (CCSS.1.OA.7). The equal sign (=) means 'is the same as' or 'has the same value as.' To determine if an equation is true, compute the value of both the left side and the right side, then check if they're equal; for example, in 3 + 4 = 2 + 5, both sides equal 7, so it's true. The problem asks if both sides of 3 + 4 = 2 + 5 are equal. Choice A is correct because 3 + 4 = 7 and 2 + 5 = 7, so yes, both sides are equal. Choice C is a common error where students think there must be an answer after =, but equations can have operations on both sides; this happens because the relational meaning of = is abstract. To help students: Show equations in many structures (a+b=c, c=a+b, a=a, a+b=c+d); use balance scales to represent equations (both sides must balance); emphasize 'equal sign means same value on both sides'; practice evaluating both sides separately before comparing; explicitly teach that 6=6 is a valid equation; show how 5+2=2+5 is true (commutative); provide mixed true/false equations for evaluation; discuss why false equations are false (different values); avoid only using 'operation = answer' format; use language like 'same as' and 'equal to.'