Addition Tips and Tricks

Here are lots of "thinking tricks" you can use to make addition easier.

Use the ones that make sense to you!

Count From A Number Upwards

Example: 6 + 3

Think "6 ... 7, 8, 9"

Hint: start from the larger number.

Example: 2 + 6

2 + 6 is Harder: "2 ... 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8"

6 + 2 is Easier: "6 ... 7, 8"

So do 6 + 2 instead (you get the same answer).

Jump Strategy

We can also count by 2s or 10s, or make any "jumps" we want to help us solve a calculation.

Example: 4 + 12
 Think "4 ... 14, 15, 16"

Adding Up To Ten

See if any numbers add to 10. They don't have to be next to each other.

Example: 7 + 8 + 3 + 2 + 5

7+3 is 10,

8+2 is another 10, which makes 20,

Plus 5 is 25

Do The Tens Last

Break big numbers into Tens and Units, add the Units, then add on the Tens.

Example: 14+5

Break the "14" into Tens and Units: 10 + 4

Add the Units: 4 + 5 = 9

Now add the Tens: 10 + 9 = 19

Think "4 plus 5 is 9, plus 10 is 19"

Another Example: 14 + 12

Break into Tens and Units: 10 + 4 + 10 + 2

Add the Units: 4 + 2 = 6

Now add on the Tens: 6 + 10 + 10 = 26

Aim for Ten

When a number is close to ten we can "borrow" from the other number so it reaches ten.

Example: 9 + 7

9 is only 1 away from 10

so take 1 from the 7: 9 + 1 + 6

and give it to the 9: 10 + 6 = 16

Think "9 plus 1 is 10 ... 7 less 1 is 6 ... together that is 16"

Example: 8 + 5

8+2=10, so lets take 2 from the 5: 8 + 2 + 3

and give it to the 8: 10 + 3 = 13

We can even move backwards to ten, by making the other number bigger as needed:

Example: 12 + 7

Reduce 12 by 2: 12 − 2 = 10
Increase 7 by 2: 7 + 2 = 9

12 + 7 = 10 + 9 = 19
Compensation Method

"Compensation" is where you round up a number (to make adding easier) and then take away the extra
after you have added.

Example 19+16

It is easier to do 20 + 16 = 36

Then take away the extra 1 (that made 19 into 20) to get: 35

Example 395 + 126

It is easier to do 400 + 126 = 526

Then take away the extra 5 (that made 395 into 400) to get: 521

Double when the numbers are the same

Example 5 + 5 = 2 x 5 = 10

Double if the numbers are close, then fix

Example: 5 + 6 is nearly two 5s, but 6 is 1 bigger than 5, so:

5 + 6 = two 5s + 1 = 10 + 1 = 11

Example: 7 + 9 is like two 8s, but 7 is 1 smaller than 8, and 9 is 1 bigger than 8 ... hey! it is exactly two
8s because 1 smaller and 1 bigger cancel each other:

7 + 9 = "8 less 1" + "8 add 1" = two 8s = 16

Addition Table
The Addition Table can help you as you learn to Add

The Addition Table

+ 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
0 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

2 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
 4 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

5 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

6 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

7 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

8 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

9 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

10 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

11 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

12 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

How to use + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Example: 3 + 5
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Go down to the "3" row 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
then along to the "5" column,
and there is your answer! "8" 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

You could also go down to "5" + 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

and along to "3", 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

or along to "3" and down to "5"

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
to get your answer.
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

Addition

Addition is ...

... bringing two or more numbers (or things) together to make a new total.
 Here 1 ball is added
to 1 ball
to make 2 balls:

Using Numerals it is: 1+1=2

And in words it is: "One plus one equals two"

Example: When we add 2 and 3 we get 5.

We can write it like this:

2+3=5

Try It

Write this down, with the answer, using numerals:

You should get: 4+3=7

Have a Play

Drag the numerals to the two blue boxes see how addition works:

View Larger

Swapping Places

Swapping the position of the numbers we are adding still gets the same result!
 3+2=5

... also ...

2+3=5

More Examples:

5+1=1+5=6

7 + 11 = 11 + 7 = 18

4 + 100 = 100 + 4 = 104

Practice

You get better at addition with practice, so we have:

Math Trainer - Addition (train your memory)

Kindergarten Worksheets (easy addition)

Addition Worksheets (normal and advanced)

Tips and Tricks

 Learn more on our Addition Tips and Tricks page

Addition Table

We can also "look up" answers for simple addition using the Addition Table (but it is really best to learn to
remember the answers).

+ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Example: Find 3 + 5

• find the row starting with "3"

• move along to be under the column "5"

• and there is the number "8", so 3 + 5 = 8

Larger Numbers: Use Addition in Columns

To add larger numbers use Column Addition :

Names

Other names for Addition are Sum, Plus, Increase, Total

And the numbers to be added together are called the "Addends":