"Twice more than (two times more)" vs "Twice as much"

A common mistake by my student is "twice more than", they often mistake it as "twice as much as". Actually they are different:

•   Twice as much = 2 X the base
•      Twice more than (Two times more) = 2 X the base + the base

Here is an example:

Tom's present age is twice more than Sam's age years ago. Today, Sam's age is Tom's age the same number of years ago. How old is Tom now if the sum of their present age is 30?

Solution:

In this question, "Tom's present age is twice more than Sam's age years ago", means Tom's present age is 3u, Sam's age years ago is 1u.

Another Model Question

Question: 

Alex, Ben and Caleb had some stamps. Alex had 90 stamps more than Ben, and Ben had 10 stamps more than Caleb. After Alex had given Ben 95 of his stamps and Caleb bought some stamps, Alex and Caleb had the same number of stamps while Ben had thrice as much as either of them.

a) How many stamps did Caleb have at first?
b) How many stamps did they have altogether at first?

Solution:

P4 Question (Model)

Thanks Irene for sending in this P4 question. 

Question:

Patricia bought 2 bicycles n 5 tricycles. She paid $140 more for 5 tricycles than for 2 bicycles. If 2 bicycles cost as much as 3 tricycles, find the total cost of 1 bicycle n 1 tricycle.

Solution:

2 bicycles = 3 tricycles

changes all bicycles to tricycles in the model as followings:

A simple P4 Question using Model

Question: 

Rachel had $80 more than Mary. If Mary gave Rachel $10, Rachel would have thrice as much as money as Mary. How much did they have altogether at first?

Solution:

Importance of reading model

My student asked me this question:

If Alex uses his money to buy 8 similar notebooks, he will still have $6 more than Bella. If Bella uses some of her money to buy the same 8 notebooks, she will have $70 less than Alex. How much is the cost of 1 notebook?

This question can be solved easily using model.

16 notebooks + $6 --> $70

16 notebooks --> $64

1 notebook --> $4

Problem sums, even complex sums, can be solved easily using model drawings.  This is so as model drawing simplifies the problem and the pictorial representation helps pupils interpret the sum in a more comprehensible manner.   

However, the use of model drawing is just one of the many other heuristic strategies used in problem solving.  We will be sharing more effective methods, taught in Singapore Schools and we improvise them, to help you better guide your child in their Math homework.