Grade 4 Bar Models: Fraction Bar Models

Worked examples

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

1. Example 1

   Max has 50 marbles. 7/10 of them are red. How many marbles are red?

   1. Draw a bar for all 50 marbles and cut it into 10 equal units. Each unit is 1/10 of the marbles.
   2. 1 unit = 50 ÷ 10. 50 ÷ 10 = 5, because 10 × 5 = 50.
   3. 7/10 is 7 units: 7 × 5 = 35.
   4. 35 marbles are red.

   Answer: 35

2. Example 2

   Jack had 48 cards. Jack gave away 1/4 of them. How many cards does Jack have left?

   1. Draw a bar for all 48 cards and cut it into 4 equal units. Each unit is 1/4 of the cards.
   2. 1 unit = 48 ÷ 4. 48 ÷ 4: take away 4 × 10 = 40 (8 left), 4 × 2 = 8 (0 left). 10 + 2 = 12, so 48 ÷ 4 = 12.
   3. Jack gave away 1 unit, so 4 − 1 = 3 units are left: 3 × 12 = 36.
   4. Jack has 36 cards left.

   Answer: 36

3. Example 3

   Mia had 6 cookies. Mia gave away 2/3 of them. How many cookies does Mia have left?

   1. Draw a bar for all 6 cookies and cut it into 3 equal units. Each unit is 1/3 of the cookies.
   2. 1 unit = 6 ÷ 3. 6 ÷ 3 = 2, because 3 × 2 = 6.
   3. Mia gave away 2 units, so 3 − 2 = 1 unit is left: 1 × 2 = 2.
   4. Mia has 2 cookies left.

   Answer: 2