Addition

Addition is one of the first math skills you learn. It means combining two or more numbers to get a bigger number called the sum. The plus sign (+) tells you to add. For example, 2 + 3 = 5. People use addition every day to count things like toys, snacks, or friends.

How Addition Works

When you add, you join groups together. If you have 4 apples and a friend gives you 2 more, you add to find out you have 6 apples. The numbers you add are called addends. The answer is called the sum. You can add small numbers in your head and bigger numbers on paper.

Adding small groups together to make a bigger number.
Adding small groups together to make a bigger number. (Phlsph7 / Wikimedia Commons)

Ways to Add

There are many ways to add numbers. You can count on your fingers, use a number line, or draw pictures. For bigger numbers, you can line them up and add column by column. Calculators and computers can also add very quickly.

Fun Facts

  • The plus sign (+) was first used in the 1400s in Europe.
  • Zero plus any number stays the same, so 0 + 7 = 7.
  • You can add numbers in any order and still get the same answer.

Did You Know?

Adding is the opposite of subtracting. If you know 5 + 3 = 8, then you also know 8 - 3 = 5.