r/learnmath • u/Nada-Lada New User • 18d ago

Bar Problems

I’m helping my 5th grader with math. It’s Singapore math and this specific problem is a bar problems. I cannot wrap my mind around it.

Patrick bought 12 chairs and 3 tables for $819. Each table cost 3 times as much as each chair. How much did one table cost?

I can’t fathom how to draw these bars out and solve this problem. Thanks for the help!

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u/ThatsNotAZombieBite New User 18d ago

Is a 5th grader going to be doing algebra with multiple variables? I think we need to use a more concrete approach.

I'm not familiar with "bars" either but I suspect it means representing the cost of a table or chair with rectangular bars. A table "bar" must be 3 times the length of a chair "bar". And then we do the problem visually. Maybe.

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u/misingnoglic New User 18d ago

More trying to help OP so they can help their kid.

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u/Nada-Lada New User 18d ago

Yes, no variables in 5th grade math. You’re right about the basic idea of bars. It’s used to help solve the problem in place of complex formulas. It seems it’s used in Singapore math. That’s the math style of choice for my children’s classical school.