Let’s Learn Mathematics (Primary Level) — Model Method 1

Do you have a model ruler?

This is the question that my students ask me when they are solving Mathematics questions that need to draw model.

When the model method was first introduced, many students and parents face problems on how to use the method to answer the questions. Along the years, students and parents are more acceptive to the method. Somebody even came out with a model ruler and gave names to different models drawn for different types of questions. For example, you draw a comparison model to solve questions that ask you to compare.

For me, this is bizarre. As long as you understand the question, you do not need a model ruler or a name for your model to solve the question. There are two similar questions in this post. I would like to show how the students may confuse themselves if they do not understand the questions.

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Q1: There are a total of 110 participants in a seminar and 60 of them are women. How many of the participants are men?

The model for Q1 is as below:

Bar model for Q1

To find the number of male participants, the operation used is subtraction.

110 – 60 = 50

There are 50 men.

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Q2: There are 50 men and 60 women in a seminar. How many participants are there altogether?

The model of Q2 is as below:

Bar model for Q2

To find the number of total participants, the operation used is addition.

60 + 50 = 110

There are 110 participants altogether.

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From the above two questions, the same model is used, but with a slight difference. We need to understand the question in order to put the numbers correctly and subsequently solve the question. As you can see, the operation used in Q1 and Q2 is different too.

If we do not understand the question, we do not even know which operation to use. Teachers must always remind the students to understand the question rather than memorize a certain type of model. If you can draw a model, but do not understand the question, it is pointless. The main aim in Mathematics is to find the answer, if you do not understand the question, how are you going to solve the question correctly?

I hope students, teachers and parents put the focus at the right place. The focus is the understanding of the question, not the tools or method used.

To be continued in Let’s Learn Mathematics (Primary Level) — Model Method 2.

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Disclaimer: The Mathematics questions are purely created for discussion purpose. Any resemblance to actual questions from books or schools is coincidental.