Primary Mathematics: Conquering Bar Models with Simple Steps

Quick answer

Bar models can be tricky, especially when you’re cramming the night before an exam. But once you break them down into simple steps, they become much clearer. I'll guide you through the common mistakes and show you how to avoid them, so you'll walk into your exam with confidence.

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What you need to know

Bar models are visual tools that help us understand math problems. They use bars to represent numbers and relationships, making it easier to see what's happening in a problem. They're especially useful for word problems, where the math isn't always obvious at first glance.

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How to Use Bar Models

Understanding the Basics

Many students find bar models confusing because they try to solve the problem straight away. A simple trick I teach my students is to start by drawing a bar for each part of the problem. This way, you can see the relationships more clearly.

Simple Steps to Solve Bar Model Problems

Step 1: Read the problem carefully.
Why: You need to understand what the problem is asking before you can draw anything.

Step 2: Identify the known and unknown parts.
Why: This helps you decide how many bars you need and what each represents.

Step 3: Draw the bars to represent the problem.
Why: Visualising the problem makes it easier to see the solution.

Step 4: Write the equations based on your bars.
Why: With the bars drawn, the math becomes clearer and more manageable.

Step 5: Solve the equations.
Why: This step finds the answer to what you’ve visualised.

Quick Check

Try drawing a bar model for this problem: "Ali has twice as many marbles as Ben. Together, they have 30 marbles. How many marbles does each have?"

Answer: Ali has 20 marbles, and Ben has 10.

Revision checklist

• Misreading the problem: Always read carefully first to avoid this common mistake.
• Drawing inaccurate bars: Ensure bars are proportional to the values they represent.
• Forgetting to label the bars: Labels help you keep track of what each bar represents.

Exam tip

When using bar models in exams, make sure your drawings are neat and labelled. This helps the examiner follow your thinking and might even earn you partial credit if your final answer isn't correct. Also, watch your time — if you're stuck, move on and come back later.

Worked examples

Question

"Mary has 12 apples. She gives some to Jim, and now she has 5. How many did she give to Jim?"

Solution

Step 1: Identify the knowns and unknowns.
Why: Mary starts with 12 apples, and we need to find how many she gave away.

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Step 2: Draw a bar for Mary’s apples (12) and another representing the apples she has left (5).
Why: This helps us see the part that represents the apples given to Jim.

Step 3: Subtract the bar for apples left from the total apples bar.
Why: This shows us the number of apples given to Jim.

Step 4: Solve: 12 - 5 = 7.
Why: The remaining part of the bar represents the apples given to Jim.

Answer: Mary gave 7 apples to Jim.

Quick summary

• Bar models simplify complex problems by visualising them.
• Always read the problem carefully and identify all parts.
• Draw accurate, labelled bars to represent knowns and unknowns.
• Use the visual model to write and solve equations.
• Practice regularly to make bar models second nature.

FAQ

Q: What if I draw the bars wrong?
A: It's okay to redraw them. Mistakes help you learn. Focus on understanding the relationships first.

Q: Why do some questions seem impossible with bar models?
A: Some problems might be too complex or not suitable for bar models. Focus on simpler problems first.

Q: How can I get faster at drawing bar models?
A: Practice a little bit every day. Short, regular practice beats cramming the night before.

Q: Can I use bar models for all math problems?
A: Not all, but they're great for word problems and visualising relationships.

Related Topics You Should Learn Next

• Primary Mathematics Bar models complete guide Singapore
• Primary Mathematics: Common Mistakes in Bar Models and How to Fix Them
• Primary Mathematics: The Simple Way to Master Bar Models
• Primary Mathematics: How to Score in Bar Model Questions

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