Addition — Maths Topic Journey

Adding numbers together

🟢 Foundation — Addition

Learn to add single-digit and teen numbers using counting on strategies

Adding Single Digits

  • Addition means putting groups together.
  • When we add 3 + 4, we start with 3 and count on 4 more.
  • Example: 3 + 4 = 7
  • 3 + 5 = 8
  • 6 + 2 = 8
  • 7 + 3 = 10

Worked Example: 5 + 6 = ?

  1. Start at 5
  2. Count on: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11
  3. We counted on 6 numbers
  4. So 5 + 6 = 11

Answer: 11

Tip: Use your fingers to count on. Start at the bigger number and count up!

Number Bonds to 20

  • Number bonds are pairs of numbers that make 10 or 20.
  • These are helpful to memorise:
  • 1 + 9 = 10
  • 2 + 8 = 10
  • 3 + 7 = 10
  • 4 + 6 = 10
  • 5 + 5 = 10

Worked Example: 7 + 3 = ?

  1. These are a number bond pair
  2. 7 + 3 makes 10
  3. We can use our fingers: 7 on one hand, 3 on the other
  4. Total: 10

Answer: 10

Tip: Number bonds to 10 are gold! Learn these and you will find maths much easier.

Adding Teens

  • Adding to 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20
  • Example: 12 + 3
  • Start at 12, count on 3 more: 13, 14, 15
  • 12 + 3 = 15
  • 14 + 5 = 19
  • 13 + 4 = 17

Worked Example: 15 + 4 = ?

  1. Start at 15
  2. Count on 4: 16, 17, 18, 19
  3. We reached 19
  4. 15 + 4 = 19

Answer: 19

Tip: Say the bigger number in your head first, then count on the smaller number on your fingers.

Practice Problems

🟡 Intermediate — Addition

Master column addition with carrying for 2 and 3-digit numbers

Introduction to Column Addition

  • Column addition means writing numbers in columns.
  • Ones go in the ones column.
  • Tens go in the tens column.
  • Write the numbers under each other.
  • Add the ones first, then the tens.
  • Example: 23 + 14
  • 23
  • + 14
  • ----
  • 37

Worked Example: 34 + 23 = ?

  1. Write in columns: 34
  2. + 23
  3. Add ones: 4 + 3 = 7
  4. Add tens: 3 + 2 = 5
  5. Answer: 57

Answer: 57

Tip: Line up the numbers by their place value. Ones under ones, tens under tens.

Addition with Carrying

  • Sometimes the ones add up to 10 or more.
  • When this happens, we carry 1 to the tens column.
  • Example: 27 + 15
  • Ones: 7 + 5 = 12 (that's 1 ten and 2 ones)
  • We write 2 in the ones and carry 1 to tens
  • Tens: 1 (carried) + 2 + 1 = 4
  • Answer: 42

Worked Example: 38 + 24 = ?

  1. Write in columns: 38
  2. + 24
  3. Add ones: 8 + 4 = 12
  4. Write 2 in ones, carry 1 to tens
  5. Add tens: 1 + 3 + 2 = 6
  6. Answer: 62

Answer: 62

Tip: If the ones add to 10 or more, carry the extra ten to the tens column.

3-Digit Addition

  • For 3-digit numbers, we add ones, then tens, then hundreds.
  • Example: 125 + 213
  • 125
  • + 213
  • -----
  • 338
  • Hundreds go in the hundreds column.
  • Tens go in the tens column.
  • Ones go in the ones column.

Worked Example: 145 + 226 = ?

  1. Write in columns: 145
  2. + 226
  3. Add ones: 5 + 6 = 11 (carry 1)
  4. Add tens: 1 + 4 + 2 = 7
  5. Add hundreds: 1 + 2 = 3
  6. Answer: 371

Answer: 371

Tip: Work from right to left: ones, tens, hundreds.

Practice Problems

🔴 Exam Ready — Addition

Add money amounts and solve multi-step word problems with decimals

Adding Money

  • Money is written with a decimal point.
  • Pounds and pence are separated by the decimal point.
  • £1.50 means 1 pound and 50 pence.
  • When adding money, line up the decimal points.
  • Example: £2.35 + £1.40
  • £2.35
  • + £1.40
  • -------
  • £3.75

Worked Example: £3.45 + £2.18 = ?

  1. Write in columns: £3.45
  2. + £2.18
  3. Add pence: 45 + 18 = 63 pence
  4. Add pounds: 3 + 2 = 5 pounds
  5. Answer: £5.63

Answer: £5.63

Tip: Always line up the decimal points. Write £ and the decimal point in your answer too.

Decimal Addition

  • Decimals can be added just like whole numbers.
  • Remember to line up the decimal points.
  • Example: 3.25 + 1.45
  • 3.25
  • + 1.45
  • ------
  • 4.70
  • 4.7 + 2.3 = 7.0
  • 5.15 + 2.84 = 7.99

Worked Example: 4.56 + 2.39 = ?

  1. Write in columns: 4.56
  2. + 2.39
  3. Add hundredths: 6 + 9 = 15 (carry 1)
  4. Add tenths: 1 + 5 + 3 = 9
  5. Add ones: 4 + 2 = 6
  6. Answer: 6.95

Answer: 6.95

Tip: Decimal addition works the same way as whole number addition. Just keep the decimal in the right place.

Multi-Step Word Problems

  • Some problems have more than one step.
  • Read carefully to find what you need to add.
  • Example: Jack has £5.20. He finds £1.30. His mum gives him £2.50. How much has he now?
  • Step 1: Add what he has: £5.20 + £1.30 = £6.50
  • Step 2: Add what mum gave: £6.50 + £2.50 = £9.00

Worked Example: A book costs £4.99. A pen costs £2.45. What is the total cost?

  1. £4.99
  2. + £2.45
  3. -------
  4. Pence: 99 + 45 = 144 pence = 1 pound 44 pence (carry 1)
  5. Pounds: 1 + 4 + 2 = 7
  6. Answer: £7.44

Answer: £7.44

Tip: Break down word problems into steps. Do one addition at a time.

Practice Problems

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