Grade 2 Bar Models: Mixed Bar Models

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   Lisa has 23 pencils. Max has 19 pencils. How many more pencils does Lisa have than Max?

   1. Draw two bars: Lisa's bar is 23 and Max's bar is 19. Line them up — the extra piece on Lisa's longer bar is the difference.
   2. To find the difference, subtract the shorter bar from the longer bar. 23 − 19: take away the tens, then the ones. 23 − 10 = 13, then 13 − 9 = 4.
   3. Lisa has 4 more pencils than Max.

   Answer: 4

2. Example 2

   Amy has 27 marbles. Tom has 7 more than Amy. How many does Tom have?

   1. Draw Amy's bar for 27. Tom has 7 more, so Tom's bar is the same length plus an extra piece of 7.
   2. Add the extra piece to Amy's amount. 27 + 7: make a ten first. 27 + 3 = 30, then 30 + 4 = 34.
   3. Tom has 34 marbles.

   Answer: 34

3. Example 3

   Emma has 20 pencils. Sam has 12 more than Emma. How many does Sam have?

   1. Draw Emma's bar for 20. Sam has 12 more, so Sam's bar is the same length plus an extra piece of 12.
   2. Add the extra piece to Emma's amount. 20 + 12: add the tens, then the ones. 20 + 10 = 30, then 30 + 2 = 32.
   3. Sam has 32 pencils.

   Answer: 32