You have many strategies: count on, doubles, make a ten and think addition. Pick the best one for each fact.
| When you see … | Try … |
|---|---|
| adding a small number, like $+ 2$ | count on |
| two numbers close together, like $7 + 8$ | a near double |
| an 8 or a 9, like $9 + 6$ | make a ten |
| subtraction, like $14 - 9$ | think addition |
Key idea
Look at the numbers first. Then pick a strategy that turns the fact into easy facts you already know.
Why it works
Every strategy changes a hard fact into easier ones without changing the answer, so all of them lead to the same total.
Worked example: Make a ten
What is $9 + 6$?
- 9 needs 1 to make 10.
- 6 is 1 and 5.
- $10 + 5 = 15$
Answer: 15
Worked example: Think addition
What is $16 - 7$?
- Think $7 + \square = 16$.
- 7 up to 10 is 3. 10 up to 16 is 6.
- $3 + 6 = 9$
Answer: 9
For grown-ups: Ask your child to explain how they solved a fact. There is often more than one good way.