Addition

Terms · Strategies · Column Method · Practice

Watch how two groups of 🍎 apples combine — count along as they merge into the sum.

+
What is Addition?
Addition combines numbers to find a total (sum). Symbol: +
First
8
Addend
Second
5
Addend
Result
13
Sum
Mental Strategies
1
Count OnStart from the bigger number and count up. 7+3: start at 7, count 8,9,10.
2
Make 10Break a number to reach 10 first. 8+6 → (8+2)+4 = 10+4 = 14.
3
DoublesMemorise doubles, then adjust. 7+8 = (7+7)+1 = 14+1 = 15.
4
Round & AdjustRound to a nice number, then fix. 49+36 → 50+36−1 = 85.
Column Addition & Carrying

Line up digits by place value. Add right to left. When total ≥10, carry the tens digit.

Example: 347 + 285

H
T
O
1
1
3
4
7
+
2
8
5
6
3
2
Ones: 7+5=12 → write 2, carry 1 | Tens: 4+8+1=13 → write 3, carry 1 | Hundreds: 3+2+1 = 6
Properties
Commutative
3+5=5+3 - order does not matter
Associative
(2+3)+4=2+(3+4) - grouping does not matter
Identity
n+0=n - adding zero changes nothing