Addition and Subtraction Made Easy

What is addition?

Addition means putting groups together. The symbol is + (plus). The answer is called the sum.

If you have 3 apples and someone gives you 2 more, how many do you have?

🍎🍎🍎 + 🍎🍎 = 🍎🍎🍎🍎🍎

3 + 2 = 5

You put the two groups together and counted them all.

A clever trick: count on

You don't have to count from 1 every time. Start at the bigger number and count on.

To work out 4 + 3, start at 4 and count on three more:

4 ... 5, 6, 7

So 4 + 3 = 7.

Tip: addition can be done in any order. 4 + 3 gives the same answer as 3 + 4. Always start at the bigger number so you count less!

What is subtraction?

Subtraction means taking some away. The symbol is − (minus). It tells you what is left.

If you have 5 cookies and you eat 2, how many are left?

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 → eat 2 → 🍪🍪🍪

5 − 2 = 3

A clever trick: count back

To subtract, start at the first number and count back.

To work out 9 − 3, start at 9 and count back three:

9 ... 8, 7, 6

So 9 − 3 = 6.

Use a number line

A number line helps you see it. To add, jump right. To subtract, jump left.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

For 6 + 2: start on 6, jump right 2 times → land on 8.

For 6 − 2: start on 6, jump left 2 times → land on 4.

Opposites that help each other

Addition and subtraction are opposites. They undo each other.

Fact	Opposite
4 + 5 = 9	9 − 5 = 4
7 + 2 = 9	9 − 2 = 7
6 + 6 = 12	12 − 6 = 6

If you know one fact, you already know the other!

Practice ideas

• Roll two dice and add the numbers.
• Count steps as you go up the stairs (adding), then back down (subtracting).
• Share snacks with a friend and figure out how many are left.

Keep going

Great work! When you are ready, your adding skills lead straight into Mastering Your Times Tables, because multiplying is just fast adding of equal groups.