>> To [students], [the equals sign] doesn’t signify equality, but instead means “put the answer here.” Imagine their confusion when, in algebra, they first enco

>> To [students], [the equals sign] doesn’t signify equality, but instead means “put the answer here.” Imagine their confusion when, in algebra, they first encounter problems with numbers on both sides of the equal sign. Is this really true? I'm sure I and my children (in the UK) were presented with fill in the box questions like: 7 + [ ] = 10 at the very earliest stages of arithmetic.