Addition and Subtraction

Strategies
The order we add does not make a difference
3 + 9 = 12

Think: 3 + 9 = 12 is the same as 9 + 3 = 12

9 + 3 = 12
Adding 1, 2 or 3
Start with the larger number and count up
3 + 17 = __

Think: put 17 in my head, count up 3. 17 in my head, 18, 19, 20.

17 + 3 = 20
Subtracting 1, 2 or 3
19 3 = __

Think: put 19 in my head, count down 3. 19 in my head, 18, 17, 16.

19 3 = 16
Doubles count by twos
5 + 5 = 10

Think 2, 4, 6, 8, 10

4+4=8

Think 2, 4, 6, 8

Near doubles 1 2 more or less than a double

4 + 5 = __

Think what is 4 + 4 and add 1 more or

Think what is 5 + 5 and subtract 1

Adding with 10
10 + 7 = __

Think put a 1 in the tens and 7 in the ones, 17

Adding with 9
9 + 7 = __

Think 9 is close to ten, 10 + 7 is 17, 9 is 1 less than 10

Think 10 + 7 = 17 but 9 is 1 less than 10, 9 + 7 = 16
OR

Think I can take one of the ones (changing 7 to 6) and add it to the
9 to make 10, 9 + 7 = is the same as 10 + 6 = 16
Skip Counting
5+5+5=

Think skip counting by 5s: 5, 10, 15

3+3+3=

Think skip counting by 3s: 3, 6, 9

12 + 2 + 2 + 2=

Think: begin at 12, skip count by 2s: 12, 14, 16, 18

120 + 10 + 10 + 10 =

Think: begin at 120, skip count by 10s: 120, 130, 140, 150

133 + 10 + 10 + 10 =

Think: begin at 133, skip count by 10s: 133, 143, 153, 163

100 + 25 + 25 + 25 =

Think: begin at 100, skip count by 25s: 100, 125, 150, 175

Relating Addition and Subtraction

Example 1

5 + 7 =12
7 + 5 = 12

Example 2

12 5 = __

Think what do I add to 5 to make 12

12 7 = __

Think what do I add to 7 to make 12

14 9 = 5
14 5 = 9
5 + __ = 14

Think what do I subtract from 14 to make 5

9 + __ = 14

Think what do I subtract from 14 to make 9

Estimating
When you do not need an exact number, you can estimate. Use a number that is close to the one
you are adding or subtracting with.
50 38 = __

Think 38 is close to 40. 50- 40 (5 tens less 4 tens) is 10.

The answer must be close to 10.

57 + 38 = __

Think 57 is close to 60. 38 is close to 40.

60 + 40 (6 tens add 4 tens) is 100 (10 tens).
The answer must be close to 100.

We can also use estimation to help us find the exact number as well.
50 38 = __

Think 38 is close to 40. 50 40 = 10.

Since 38 is two less than 40, I am not taking away as many so the answer must be
more than 10. Because 38 is two fewer, I have two more. 10 + 2 = 12
50 38 = 12
57 + 38 = __

Think 57 is close to 60, 38 is close to 40.

6 tens and 4 tens is 10 tens or 1 hundred (60 + 40 = 100). 57 is 3 less than 60 and
38 is 2 less than 40. My answer must be 5 less than 100. 100 5 = 95
Then 57 + 38 = 95
Using Mental Math to Add
We can use a number with the above strategies to help add larger numbers.
We can add beginning on the left.
257 + 165
Think: 2 hundreds + 1 hundred = 3 hundreds (200 + 100 = 300)
5 tens + 6 tens = 11 tens OR 1 hundred and 1 ten (50 + 60 = 110)
Now I have 3 hundreds and 110 more = 4 hundreds and 10 (410)
7 ones + 5 ones = 12 ones OR 1 ten and 2 ones (7 + 5 = 12)
Now there are 12 ones (2), 410 + 12 = 422
We can add right to left
257 + 165
Think 7 + 5 = 12

50 + 60 = 110
Then 12 + 110 = 122
200 + 100 = 300
Then 300 + 122 = 422
Estimate
69 + 25
Think 69 is 1 less than 70
Think 70 + 25 is 7 tens and 2 tens which is 9 tens (70 + 20 = 90) add the 5 ones is
90

+ 5 = 95 but 69 is 1 less, 95 1 = 94
69 + 25 is 94
Doubles
25 + 28 =
Think 25 + 25 + 50, 28 is three more than 25, then add 3 ones, 50 + 3 = 53
57 + 50
Think 50 + 50 = 100, 57 is 7 more than 50, 100 + 7 = 107
Break the number down into smaller numbers
57 + 55
Think: 57 is 50 + 7 OR 50 + 5 + 2
55 is 50 + 5
50 + 5 +2 + 50 + 5 (the order does not matter so you can change it around to help
you add the numbers easier:
50 + 50 + 5 + 5 + 2
50 + 50 = 100
5 + 5 = 10

100 + 10 + 2 = 112
Adding 3 Digit Numbers
We can add using regrouping, base ten blocks and a place value mat (Place value mat attached
with examples).
257 + 165
Step 1: Begin by adding the ones: 7 + 5 = 12, I can make a ten and move it to the tens
place, leaving 2 ones (2), and we can show it like this:

1
2 5 7
+

1 6 5
2

Step 2
1 ten add 5 tens add 6 tens = 11 tens (10+50+60 = 120), I can make a hundred and move it
to the hundreds place, leaving only 2 tens in the tens place (20), and we can show it like
this:
1

2 5 7
+ 1 6 5
2 2

Step 3
1 hundred add 2 hundreds add 1 hundred = 4 hundreds (100 + 200 + 100 = 400) I cannot
make a thousand because I do not have 10 hundreds.
Looking at my place value chart I have 4 hundreds, 2 tens, 2 ones and we can show it
like this:

1
2

1
5 7

+ 1 6 5
4 2 2

Using Mental Math to Subtract

Estimating
45 12
Think 12 is close to 10. 45 10 = 35, but I am taking away 12 that is 2 more then
10. 35 2 = 33

45 16
Think 16 is close to 15. I have 4 tens and 5 ones. If I take away 1 ten and 5 ones I
have 3 tens left. 45 15 = 30 but I am taking away 16 that is one more. 30-1 = 29

Skip Counting and Counting Up

Example 1

45-16

16 counting up to 45
+4

+10

+ 10

16 20

30

40

+5
45

How much did I count up: 4 + 10 + 10 + 5 = order does not matter so:
10 + 10 = 20, 20 + 5 = 25, 25 + 4 = 29
Example 2

365 147

147 counting up to 365

+3
147

150

+ 100

+ 100
250

350

+ 10

+5

360

365

How much did I count up: 3 + 100 + 100 + 10 + 5 = order does not matter so:
100 + 100 = 200, 200 + 10 = 210, 210 + 5 = 215, 215 + 3 = 218

Skip Counting and Counting Backwards

Example 1

45 16

-4

-10

-10

-5

16

20

30

35

45

*Start at this side and go back

Think: I took away 5 and 10 and 10 and 4 is 5+10+10+4 = 29

Example 2

365 147

365 counting and skip counting backwards to 147

-3

-100

-100

-10

-5

150

250

260

360

147

365

*Start at this side and go back

Think: I took away 5 and 10 and 100 and 100 and 3 more so
5 + 10 + 100 + 100 + 3 more = 218
Using a friendly (round) number
73 49
Think 49 is close to 50. 73 50 (or 5 tens) is 23, but 49 is 1 less than 50, so I have 1
more one so:
73 49 = 24
Doubles
14 7 =
Think 7 + 7 = 14 so 14 7 = 7
Break down the number subtracted into smaller numbers
87 54
Think 54 is 50 and 4. 87 50 (take away 5 tens) = 37. Now I can take away the 4.
37 4 (take away 4 ones from the 7 ones) = 33

87 54 = 33
Subtracting 3 Digit Numbers
We can add using regrouping, base ten blocks and a place value mat.
422 128
Step 1
Begin by subtracting the ones: 2 ones take away 8, I can split a ten an move it to
the ones place, leaving 1 ten and making 12 ones (12), now I can take 8 ones away
from the 12 and we can show it like this:

12

8
4

Step 2
Next I will subtract the tens but I only have 1 ten and I need to take away 2 tens. I
can split a hundred and make 10 more tens to make 11 tens and we can show it
like thisL

11

12

8
4

Now I can take 2 tens away from the 11 tens which is 9 tens

11

12

Step 3
Next I will subtract the hundreds. I can take away 1 hundred from the 3
hundreds, leaving 2 hundreds and we can show it like this:

11

12

Estimation
When students are asked to estimate a sum (addition equation) or difference (subtraction
equation), they are asked to use one of the three following strategies:
1. Round your numbers and then add or subtract them. Numbers with a 5 or higher in the
ones spot gets rounded up to the next nearest ten. Ie. 45 gets rounded up to 50. 44 would
get rounded down to 40.
2. Add or subtract only the 10s number. Ie, if you have the equation 42+31= ____, you
would look at the numbers in the 10s place (4 and 3). You would then add 4 tens to 3
tens = 7 tens. 7 tens (count by ten 7 times) = 70. Your estimation would be 70.
3. Round one number, and then add it or subtract it to the next number. With this, if you
are doing subtraction, it is easier for students to round the second number. Ie 76-38 =
___. Have them round 38 to 40 and then the new equation would be 76-38. With
addition, they can chose which number to round.