Addition of Numbers — Grade 1 Mathematics
Addition is the maths superpower of putting things together! When we add two groups, we find out how many there are altogether. Addition is one of the most important things you will ever learn in maths — and it is a lot of fun!
Understanding Addition
We use the plus sign (+) to show we are adding, and the equals sign (=) to show the answer.
A number sentence for addition looks like this:
3 + 4 = 7
— which means "3 plus 4 equals 7" or "3 and 4 make 7 altogether".
Worked Examples
Let's add 5 + 3. We start at 5 and count on 3 more.
- Start at 5.
- Count on 3: 6 … 7 … 8
- We land on 8. So 5 + 3 = 8.
Tom has 4 red balloons 🎈 and his friend gives him 6 blue balloons 🎈. How many balloons does Tom have now?
To solve 7 + 4, start at 7 on the number line and jump 4 spaces forward.
Start at orange 7, jump forward 4 steps to land on orange 11.
Practice Questions
Have a go! Work out the answers, then click Show Answer to check.
1. What is 3 + 5?
2. A box has 6 🍪 cookies and mum adds 4 more. How many cookies are there now?
3. What is 8 + 7?
4. Find the missing number: 9 + ___ = 14
5. Sara scores 6 points in a game and then scores 8 more. What is her total score?
Key Points to Remember
- Addition means putting groups together to find the total.
- We use the symbol + (plus) and = (equals).
- You can add numbers in any order and get the same answer.
- Use a number line or count on your fingers to help you add.
- Always start with the bigger number and count on — it is faster!