JENECONKMaths Universe

Addition

Ages 5–9

Difficulty adapts to you

Addition

Addition means putting things together to find the total. The symbol is + (plus). The answer is called the sum.

Your goals

  • ✓You can add numbers together to find the total.
  • ✓You can use addend, sum correctly.
  • ✓You can estimate first or subtract one addend from your sum.

Words to know

addend:
A number being added.
sum:
The result of addition.

Examples

  • 13 + 4 = 7 — three plus four equals seven.
  • 212 + 8 = 20 — twelve plus eight equals twenty.

More than one way to solve it

Try each method, then choose the one you can explain and check most clearly.

Method 1

Partition by place value

Best for: Larger numbers and written work
  1. 1.Split each number into hundreds, tens, and ones.
  2. 2.Add matching place values.
  3. 3.Combine the partial totals.

Example: 47 + 36 = (40 + 30) + (7 + 6) = 70 + 13 = 83.

Method 2

Compensation

Best for: Numbers close to a friendly ten or hundred
  1. 1.Round one addend to a friendly number.
  2. 2.Add it.
  3. 3.Undo the amount you added when rounding.

Example: 58 + 27 = 60 + 27 - 2 = 85.

Method 3

Column addition

Best for: Reliable calculation with several digits
  1. 1.Align place values.
  2. 2.Add from right to left.
  3. 3.Regroup when a column totals ten or more.

Example: 368 + 257: add ones, tens, then hundreds to get 625.

Check these

  • • Do not misalign ones, tens, hundreds, or decimal places.
  • • Keep every number, symbol, label, and unit in its correct place.
  • • Choose the method that makes each step easiest to explain and check.

Helpful habits

  • • Read the whole question before choosing what to do.
  • • Show one clear step at a time and check each step.
  • • If you are stuck, draw a model, try smaller numbers, or revisit the example.

Now try your own

Create your own addition example, solve it, and explain how you checked it.

Byte

Byte

Helpful Hints

“If you are stuck, skip and come back later.”