Addition and Subtraction of the Numbers from 1 to 10

Adding puts groups together. For 3 + 4, put 3 dots and 4 more dots together and count them all: 3 + 4 = 7.

Subtracting takes some away. For 7 − 3, take 3 of the 7 dots away and count the dots that are left: 7 − 3 = 4.

To add a small number, start at the bigger number and count on: for 6 + 2, say 7, 8, so 6 + 2 = 8.

The bigger number is farther to the right on the number line: 5 > 3 and 3 < 5. The open side of the sign faces the bigger number.

If there is a sum or a difference, work it out first. For 6 2 + 3, find 2 + 3 = 5, so 6 > 2 + 3.

You can add in any order: 2 + 5 = 5 + 2 = 7.

Which number is missing? For 3 + ? = 8, hop along the number line from 3 to 8: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 – that’s 5 hops, so 3 + 5 = 8.

For 6 − ? = 2, hop back from 6 to 2: 5, 4, 3, 2 – that’s 4 hops, so 6 − 4 = 2.