Presenting the Bar Model method

Now let me introduce the bar model method, or simply called the model method in Singapore. The model method in Singapore refers to a particular mathematical problem-solving approach by using rectangular bars as pictorial representations of the quantities in the relationships between quantities in problem situations. So it is in CPA, the P, a pictorial representation. Different model methods can be used to solve different types of mathematics problems. There are five models of model methods. First is the part-part-whole model. The second is a comparison model. The third is a multiplication model. The fourth is participation/rate model. Then the fifth is a combination model, the basic part-part-whole model and comparison model. Dr.

Bokhove will explain some research and theoretical background about the bar model method. Here I will show you two

concrete examples: one for the part-part-whole model and the other comparison model. So let’s look at the following examples. Question 1 so it’s about a part-part-whole model

the problem is: Class A has 37 students Class B has 30 students. What is the total number of students in the two classes? So using rectangular bars we will draw this way first is Class A is 37 then Class B is 30, so the total is

addition: 37 plus 30 that’s 67, so that’s the answer. Now let’s look at example two. So the question

is as follows: Class A has 67 students. Class B has 37 students. How many more students does Class A have than Class B? So we use a longer rectangular bar to represent the quantity of Class A. Then we use a shorter rectangular bar to represent some quantity, that is the number of students in Class B. Then we use subtraction to get to the answer. That is 67 minus 30 equals 37. So that is understandable for almost every student.