Numbers/Content/Using Numbers/Adding and Subtracting

< Using Numbers

New Words

• Add
• Subtract

Lesson

Adding

Adding is a way to put two numbers together. You use the " + " sign for the adding operation. If you have 5 apples and a friend has 6 apples, you and your friend have 11 apples. This is 5 + 6 = 11 using the signs of Math.

A good way of learning how to add is by counting on your fingers. If you had to work out the sum 2+3, you could hold up two fingers and keep them up whilst holding up three more fingers. If you count the number of fingers you have streched out you will come to the answer, 5. It is possible to use this method by counting something else such as buttons or coins.

Order is not important when adding. 2 + 3 is the same as 3 + 2.

Subtracting

Subtracting is a way of taking a number out from an other number. It is the opposite of adding. You use the " - " sign for the subtracting operation. If you have 5 apples and give 3 to a friend, you then have 2 apples. This is 5 - 3 = 2 using the signs of Math.

Order is important when subtracting. 3 - 2 is not the same as 2 - 3.

Example Questions

3+4=7, 5+10=15, 3+8=11, 2+6=8