A mathematical drawing represents the quantities, actions, and relationships in a problem, such as joining, separating, comparing, equal groups, or arranging objects in rows and columns. Drawings may include labeled bar models, number lines, arrays, or simple object representations and should preserve the location of the unknown, helping distinguish the whole, parts, difference, and equal groups; formal diagrams for more advanced or generalized problems are not included.
A mathematical drawing helps you see the quantities and how they are related. First, decide whether the problem shows joining, separating, comparing, or equal groups. Then draw and label the known numbers and the unknown.
Example:
Mia has stickers. Her friend gives her more stickers. How many stickers does Mia have now?
Find the action.
Mia gets more stickers, so this is a joining problem.
Find the parts and the whole.
Draw a labeled bar model.
Draw one bar for the whole and split it into the two parts:
Whole: [ ? stickers ]
Parts: [ 8 stickers ] [ 5 stickers ]
The question mark is on the whole because the problem asks for the total.
Use the drawing to write a number sentence.
Solve and check the drawing.
Mia has stickers. The two parts, and , join to make the whole, .
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