Utilising Advancd UTM Techniques

Mrs Lim said...

I have bought your Unit Transfer Method Book last month. I was trying to use Chapter 1.4 (All Changing Quanties) to solve the below question from my girl's P6 test paper but somehow just could not solve the question. Question: Jane had $108 more than Peggy at first. Jane used 2/9 of her money while Peggy used 2/5 of her money. After that, Jane had $340 more than Peggy. How many did Jane have at first?

April 11, 2010 9:16 AM

From the Desk of Sunny Tan........

Problems that involve “more than/less than” generally utilize Advanced UTM technique. This problem cannot be solved using “All changing quantities” – questions in “All changing” does not involve “more than/ less than”.

Advance technique involves modification of the basic UTM as follows:

I would advise to teach the child the basic UTM technique and ensure the child is proficient in applying the fundamental UTM framework before to expose them to the advanced UTM. Without the basic training in the UTM framework, the child will faces challenges in visualizing the above conversion and may end up confusing the child.

Below depicts an alternate method to the above problem using the stack model approach :

The Maths Challenge to Parent - UTM book Q5 Pg 20

Hi Sunny

My daughter was trying out the Q5 on page 20 of your UTM book. I have download the answers and explanation, but I don't seem to understand what the "40" in the boxes that you have placed in the diagram. How did you derive the "40"?

Question: Three sisters, Angie, Bernice and Candice share some sweets. Angie's share is 40% of the total number of sweets the three sisters have. Bernice has 40 sweets more than Angie. Bernice's share is 4 times Candice’s. How much money did each of them have?

Thanks

Vijay

From the Desk of Sunny Tan........

The explanation in the book use conventional model. I will illustrate visualizing the model in another perspective - stack model:

Conventional Model VS Stack Model

In my seminars, the following are the most common questions raised by many parents;

a) What are the differences between conventional and stack Model approach?
b) Which model is the more “superior” approach?
c) Will it be confusing for the child to “switch” from conventional to stack model?

Many parents have the misconception that stack Model is completely new approach, that is different from the conventional model. I would like to emphasis that Stack model and conventional Model uses the same fundamental concepts of units to solve problem. Basically, they are the same. The only MAIN difference is the orientation of drawing the model.

Stack model utilizes visual processing technique – enable the child to minimize the movement (rearrange) the models and to combine all the steps required in the conventional model into a single step by using a single model. Then objective is to enable the child to “see” the problems laterally!

I will use the below example to illustrate my point:

The total cost of 14 bags is equal to the total cost of 6 wallets. Each wallet costs $22 more than each bag. Find the cost of each wallet.

CONVENTIONAL MODEL:















STACK MODEL:

Stack Model in action

Conventional Model

Stack Model

Maths Problem

Hi Sunny,

Greetings!

My daughter, have attended your PR. 6 sesson.

I have one of her Pr. 6 problem that I know the answer but do not know how to present to her. Based on your method, how do you solve the following question:

Ai Tong School organized a 2-day camp. On the first day, the number of boys was 600 more than the girls. On the second day, the number of boys decreased by 10% but the number of girls increased by 10%. If there were 2540 children on the second day, how many children were there on the first day?

Appreciate your enlightening on the solution.

Thanks.

Mr Lee

From the Desk of Sunny Tan........

(click on image for larger view)