The equals sign doesn't mean "the answer goes here" — it means "the value on both sides is the same." Check it with a balance scale, and write rules using □ and △.
In 3+4=7, the equals sign isn't a marker for "here's where the answer goes." It means the left and right sides are exactly the same, like a balance scale. Because we're so used to writing an answer after "3+4=", it's easy to mistake the equals sign for the spot where the answer appears — but its real meaning is "both sides have the same value."
Just like a balance scale settles level when you put the same weight on both sides, the equals sign describes a balanced state when both sides of an equation have the same value — and it tips to one side when they don't. Even before learning letters like x and y, you can write a rule using □ and △. "△ = □ + 3" is a rule saying: whatever number □ is, add 3 to get △. Play with the scale and the numbers yourself to discover what the equals sign really means.
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