Chapter 3 — Addition
In the previous chapters, you learned about numbers, counting, tens and ones, and how to compare and order numbers. Now you are ready to learn one of the most important operations in mathematics: addition.
Addition helps us find how many things there are when we put two or more groups together. We use addition when we combine objects, count things together and solve everyday problems.
Why This Chapter Matters
Addition is one of the first mathematical operations you will use regularly. It helps you find a total when quantities are combined.
For example, if you have 3 pencils and get 2 more pencils, addition helps you find the total number of pencils.
Understanding addition will also help you learn subtraction, multiplication and many other mathematical ideas later.
What You Will Learn
- What addition means.
- How to add objects by putting groups together.
- How pictures can help us add.
- How to understand simple addition facts.
- How to add numbers.
- How addition is used in everyday situations.
- How to solve simple addition word problems.
Before You Begin
Before starting this chapter, you should be able to count numbers and recognise numbers in their correct order.
You should also understand how numbers represent quantities. The earlier chapters on numbers and counting provide the foundation for this chapter.
Understanding the Learning Sequence
The lessons in this chapter move from concrete examples to numbers and then to simple problems.
Following the lessons in this order will help you understand addition gradually instead of learning addition facts without understanding what they mean.
Lessons in This Chapter
Complete the lessons in the order shown below. Each lesson prepares you for the next one.
Important Ideas
- Addition means putting quantities together.
- The plus sign + is used for addition.
- The answer to an addition problem is called the sum.
- Objects and pictures can help us understand addition.
- Counting on can help us add small numbers.
- Addition is used in many everyday situations.
- Word problems help us use addition to solve real situations.
Chapter Practice
After completing the lessons, try these simple activities.
- Put 2 objects together with 3 objects. How many are there?
- Add 4 and 2.
- Complete: 5 + 3 = ___.
- Find the total when 6 objects are joined with 2 objects.
- Write an addition sentence for 3 apples and 4 more apples.
Quick Revision
Addition helps us find the total when quantities are put together. We can understand addition using objects, pictures, numbers and everyday situations.
In this chapter, you will gradually move from understanding the meaning of addition to solving simple addition word problems.
Continue Learning
Start with Lesson 1 — What Is Addition? and complete the lessons in sequence.
Each lesson builds on the understanding developed in the previous lesson, so following the order will make addition easier to learn.