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Addition

Addition is ...

... bringing two or more numbers (or things) together to make a new total.

Here 1 ball is added to 1 ball
to make 2 balls:

One red ball plus one red ball equals two red balls

Using Numerals it is:

1 + 1 = 2

And in words it is:

"One plus one equals two"

Example: When we add 2 and 3 we get 5.

We can write it like this:

2 + 3 = 5

Try It

Write this down, with the answer, using numerals:

Four blue balls plus three red balls equals question mark

You should get: 4 + 3 = 7

Have a Play

Drag the numerals to the two blue boxes see how addition works:

images/add-drag-drop.js

Adding Zero

Adding 0 adds no value, so the total doesn't change:

Example: 5 + 0

5 + 0 = 5

(still 5, because we didn't add any more)

Example: 0 + 5

0 + 5 = 5

Swapping Places

If you have 3 apples and get 2 more, is that the same as having 2 apples and getting 3 more?

Swapping the position of the numbers we are adding still gets the same result!

3 + 2 = 5

Three yellow stars plus two yellow stars equals five yellow stars

... also ...

2 + 3 = 5

Two yellow stars plus three yellow stars equals five yellow stars

More Examples:

5 + 1 = 1 + 5 = 6

7 + 11 = 11 + 7 = 18

4 + 100 = 100 + 4 = 104

Fact Families (Addition and Subtraction)

Three numbers can make a little family because they work together in addition and subtraction.

Example: 3, 5 and 8

3 + 5 = 8

5 + 3 = 8

8 − 3 = 5

8 − 5 = 3

This helps when a number is missing:

Example: 8 − = 3

In the family above, 8 − 5 = 3, so the missing number is 5.

Example: + 5 = 8

In the family above, 3 + 5 = 8, so the missing number is 3.

Practice

dog weaves through poles

You get better at addition with practice, so we have:

Math Trainer - Addition (train your memory)

Kindergarten Worksheets (easy addition)

Addition Worksheets (normal and advanced)

Tips and Tricks

Learn more on our Addition Tips and Tricks page

Addition Table

We can also "look up" answers for simple addition using the Addition Table (but it is really best to learn to remember the answers).

+	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11

Example: Find 3 + 5

• find the row starting with "3"

• move along to be under the column "5"

• and there's the number "8", so 3 + 5 = 8

Larger Numbers: Use Addition in Columns

To add larger numbers use Column Addition :

Names

Other names for Addition are Sum, Plus, Increase, Total

And the numbers to be added together are called the "Addends":

Equation 8 plus 3 equals 11, with 8 and 3 labeled as addends and 11 labeled as the sum

1578, 1579, 3403, 3404, 1580, 3405, 1581, 1582, 3406, 3407