Addition Tips and Tricks
(Your learner should know how to count, print numbers
and a little about place value before trying
to add.)
Let’s look at a addition problem to learn the key terms. The
problem below labels the parts of an addition problem.
|
2
+4 6 |
<–addend
<–addend |
In the area below, label the parts of the addition problem.
|
6
+1 7 |
<__________________
<__________________ <__________________ |
TIP #1
This first addition tip was submitted by Ms. Robin Sorenson of
Southview Elementary School in Apple Valley, Minnesota (Thanks Robin!).
The first tip for solving addition problems is to teach learners to “count on.”
Counting on works by having the learner count on from the biggest number or
the largest addend in an addition problem. For example, in the problem 7+4=
the learner counts up from 7 (seven) aloud by saying ‘seven,…. eight, nine,
ten, eleven.” The learner can use their fingers, toes or ?
Touch points to help see that they have counted up four places.
Touch points are basically points on a number that learners can use to “count
on” with. For example, the number 3 has three easy to distinguish touch points.
So for a problem like 7 + 3 the learner says seven aloud then counts on by touching
the three points of the number 3 while saying,..eight, nine, ten.”
Use the space below to have your learner make a set of touch
pointed numbers.
| Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
Use your touch point numbers to solve the following problems:
|
3
|
+
|
2
|
=
|
_________
|
|
4
|
+
|
3
|
=
|
_________
|
|
5
|
+
|
5
|
=
|
_________
|
Now, go here: addition worksheets – you can use with counting on and the touch points above.
There are several methods to use to make addition problems easier. Below is
a list of these methods with activities and worksheets for practice and assessment.
Solving additions with a zero (0) as an addend is easy. If you
add a number to zero the result is always the number. Here is an example:
|
4
|
+
|
0
|
=
|
________
|
|
1
|
+
|
0
|
=
|
_________
|
|
10
|
+
|
0
|
=
|
__________
|
|
53
|
+
|
0
|
=
|
_________
|
|
213
|
+
|
0
|
=
|
_________
|
|
487
|
+
|
0
|
=
|
_________
|
Here’s a worksheet of additions that have zeros as addends.
Solving additions with a one (1) as an addend is easy, too. If
you add a number with 1 as an addend, the result will be one MORE than the number
1 is being added to.
For example:
|
2
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
3
|
|
7
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
8
|
|
10
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
11
|
|
13
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
14
|
|
22
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
23
|
|
5
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
______
|
|
8
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
______
|
|
16
|
+
|
1
|
=
|
______
|
Here’s a worksheet of additions that have ones as addends.
TRICK: For help on teaching a learner to
carry see this activity.
TRICK: To help your learner memorize the following problems,
have them, read the equations, cover them, recite them, then check to make sure
they recited it correctly…this is called R.C.R.C. -or- R ead,
C over, R ecite, C heck. After you have R.C.R.C.’d
the equation, come back to it later to make sure your learner remembers it…repeat
the R.C.R.C. often (each learner is different…some will get it in several
tries, others may take ???) with each problem.
Tip #2
Memorizing
certain equations can speed your ability to solve problems…do that with
the following:
|
|
Solve the problems below from memory or by using touch points.
| 1 + 1 =_____ 2 + 2 =_____ 3 + 3 =_____ 4 + 4 =_____ 5 + 5 =_____ |
6 + 6 =_____ 7 + 7 =_____ 8 + 8 =_____ 9 + 9 =_____ 10 + 10 =_____ |
Here is a worksheet for doubles. It contains problems such as
1 + 1, 2 + 2,…9 + 9, 10 + 10,…90 + 90.
TRICK: Use doubles plus one to solve tougher addition
problems like 7 + 6.
As you see, 7 +
6 is one more than 6 + 6 = 12 (so, 7 + 6 = 13).
Likewise, it’s also easier to figure out that 8 + 7 = 15 since it too is one
more
than 7 + 7 (so,
8 + 7 = 15)
Is this making any
sense at all?
Here is a worksheet on doubles plus one.
Tip #3
Memorize the essential addition
problems. If you know the zero plus rule and the Communicative Law of Addition
(0+9=9 -or- 0+X=X and 9+0=9 -or- X+0=X), then, there are only 44 addition problems
to know.
Here is a worksheet that sequentially lists the 44 problems.
Tip #4
Use a number line to help solve problems.
On the number line above is the problem 3 + 4 = 7. The lines
above the number line show the addition.
Use the number line below to solve the following additions. Draw lines over
the numbers as shown above, start from zero.
|
2
|
+
|
3
|
=
|
____
|
|
1
|
+
|
4
|
=
|
____
|
|
5
|
+
|
2
|
=
|
____
|
| 10 | + | 3 | = | ____ |
Now make your own number line using the line provided.
Or go HERE to get a worksheet of
5 blank number lines.
TRICK:
For two, three and four digit addition problems, try using the
expanded form of the number.
Example:
|
23
|
=
|
20
|
+
|
3
|
|
+
|
16
|
=
|
10
|
+
|
6
|
|
39
|
=
|
30
|
+
|
9
|
=
|
39
|
In the space provided below write each number in it’s expanded form.
|
25
|
=
|
____
|
+
|
____
|
|
31
|
=
|
____
|
+
|
____
|
|
18
|
=
|
____
|
+
|
____
|
| 127 | = | ____ | + | ____ |
Let’s us the expanded form
of numbers to help us add big numbers.
To add numbers such as 256 and 196 set it up like this:
|
256 = 200 |
+
|
50
90 |
+
|
6
6 |
Now add each of the columns starting on the right side. Carry
or rename when necessary. For example, the right column, 6 + 6 = 12. Place the
two (2) under the 6 and 6, then carry the 1 left over to the next column to
the left and write it as a 10 above the 50 as shown below.
| Â | Â |
10
|
 |  |
|
200
|
+
|
50
|
+
|
6
|
|
+100
|
+
|
90
|
+
|
6
|
| Â | Â | Â | Â |
2
|
Now add the 10s columns
10 + 50 + 90 for a sum of 150. Write 50 under the 10 + 50 + 90 column and carry
the 1 to the left and write it as a 100 over to the 100s column above the 200
as shown below.
|
100
|
 |
10
|
 |  |
|
200
|
+
|
50
|
+
|
6
|
|
100
|
+
|
90
|
+
|
6
|
| Â | Â |
50
|
+
|
2
|
Now add that 100s column,
100 + 200 + 100 = 500. Write the 500 below the 100 + 200 + 100 column as shown
below.
|
100
|
 |
10
|
 |  |
|
200
|
+
|
50
|
+
|
6
|
|
100
|
+
|
90
|
+
|
6
|
|
400
|
+
|
50
|
+
|
2
|
Yes, now add the bottom
row from left to right so 400 + 50 + 2 = 452 and write that sum below the
columns as shown below.
|
100
|
 |
10
|
 |  |
|
200
|
+
|
50
|
+
|
6
|
|
100
|
+
|
90
|
+
|
6
|
|
400
|
+
|
50
|
+
|
2
|
|
= 452
|
Now, combine the bottom
row of numbers and write the result..452 from our sums of 400 + 50 + 2.
With a little practice, this is a great way to add big numbers.