Bar Modeling Method

The Visual Algebra

Visual

A very powerful tool for primary students to understand

mathematical concepts in a visual way

Logical

Solve complex word problems logically (rather than through

conventional algebraic methods)

Basic Applications (Lower Primary)

Harry
Question
Harry and Tia had 100
chocolates altogether.
Harry had 80 chocolates
more than Tia. How many
chocolates does Tia have?

80

80 more

Tia

Let # of chocolates Tia has be c

100

# of Chocolates Harry have = c +80

Total # of chocolates they have together = 2c + 80

2 units = 100 80 = 20
1 unit = 20 / 2 = 10

Common Mistake
Children typically
subtract 80 from 100 to
say that Tia has 20
chocolates`

Tia has 10 chocolates

2c + 80 = 100
Hence, c = 10
Tia has 10 chocolates

Advanced Applications (Upper Primary)

Question
There are 610 watches &
pens in the box. 1/5th of
the watches & 1/3rd of
the pen were made in
Italy. The rest were made
in China. A total of 150
watches & pen were made
in Italy. How many
watches were there in the
box?

Watch

Italy

Let # of watches be w and # of pens be p

China
610

Pen
160 (Balance)

Pen

150

150

2 units (Watches) = 160

1 unit = 80
# of Watches = 5 units = 80 x 5 = 400

(1)

1/5 w + 1/3 p = 150

(2)

Multiplying both sides of equation (2) by 3

Watch
150

w + p = 610

610

3/5 w + p = 450
Subtracting equation (3) from (1), we get

150 watches & pen were

made in Italy

2/5 w = 160
Hence, w = 400
There are 400 watches in the box

(3)