When you have a "real world problem," or "math word problem," sometimes it's hard to know what to do with the numbers. You need to figure out if you add, multiply, subtract, or divide them. If there's more than 2 numbers in the problem, you also need to figure out which numbers to compute! That's when bar modeling can help.
If a word problem tells you about two people with different amounts, the first step is to draw a little bar for the smaller number, and a bigger bar for the bigger number. Imagine a problem started out saying "If Tim had $1 and Kim had $2..." you can see that Tim has a smaller amount than Kim.
Addition and Subtraction problems are here.
Multiplication and Division problems are here.
If a word problem tells you about two people with different amounts, the first step is to draw a little bar for the smaller number, and a bigger bar for the bigger number. Imagine a problem started out saying "If Tim had $1 and Kim had $2..." you can see that Tim has a smaller amount than Kim.
Addition and Subtraction problems are here.
Multiplication and Division problems are here.
The top person has less.
The bottom person has more.
Once you've drawn these bars correctly, you can tell the difference. Just look at how much more the bottom person has. Of course the difference will be a smaller amount than the bigger bar. The difference can be found by subtracting, because subtracting gives you a smaller number.
If Tim has $1 and Kim has $2, subtract to find the difference is $1.
If Tim has $1 and Kim has $2, subtract to find the difference is $1.
A problem might also tell you or ask you how much they have altogether. See how I'm indicating both? A bracket (the thing that is drawn like a mustache) shows both. The total amount they have together is going to be bigger than the bigger bar. Adding gives you a bigger number.
So if Tim has $1 and Kim has $2, add them together to show that they have $3 altogether.
So if Tim has $1 and Kim has $2, add them together to show that they have $3 altogether.
Try it! If Noun1 has $20 and Noun2 has $50, what is the difference? How much do they have altogether?
For a GREAT website with interactive word problems, check out Math Playground!
Addition and Subtraction problems are here.
Multiplication and Division problems are here.
For now, there is also a FREE iPad app for math word problems! Please let me know if you visit this link and they change their policy and charge money for the apps; I'll take the link down when this happens.
For a GREAT website with interactive word problems, check out Math Playground!
Addition and Subtraction problems are here.
Multiplication and Division problems are here.
For now, there is also a FREE iPad app for math word problems! Please let me know if you visit this link and they change their policy and charge money for the apps; I'll take the link down when this happens.