Addition word problem: A mathematical problem expressed in words that requires adding two or more quantities together to find the total amount.
- Read carefully: Understand what the problem is asking
- Identify numbers: Find the quantities mentioned in the problem
- Identify operation: Look for keywords indicating addition
- Solve: Add the numbers together
- Check: Make sure your answer makes sense
Sarah originally has 5 apples, and receives 3 more apples
"More" indicates we need to add the quantities together
Original apples + New apples = Total apples
5 + 3 = 8
Does 8 make sense? Yes, because 5 + 3 equals 8
Sarah has 8 apples.
• Keywords for addition: more, total, altogether, sum, increased by, combined
• Counting strategy: Start with 5, then count 3 more: 6, 7, 8
• Verification: Check if the answer is reasonable
Total/Altogether: Keywords that indicate finding the sum of all quantities involved.
Tom starts with 7 books and gets 4 more books
"More" and "altogether" both indicate addition
Starting books + New books = Total books
7 + 4 = 11
Start at 7, then count 4 more: 8, 9, 10, 11
Tom has 11 books altogether.
• Key addition words: altogether, total, sum, combined, in all, increased by
• Counting on: Start with the larger number and count up
• Number line strategy: Move forward on the number line
Combining sets: Adding different groups together to find the total number of items.
There are 6 dogs and 5 cats in the park
We need to find the total number of pets
"Total" means we need to add both groups together
6 + 5 = 11
There are 11 pets in total
There are 11 pets in total.
• Combining different groups: Add all quantities to find the whole
• Word "total": Indicates addition of all parts
• Part-whole relationship: Individual groups combine to form the total
Addends: The numbers being added together
Sum: The result of adding numbers
Plus Sign (+): Symbol that indicates addition
- Counting On: Start with the larger number and count up
- Using Doubles: Know doubles facts (5+5=10)
- Near Doubles: Use doubles to solve (5+6 = 5+5+1 = 11)
- Make Ten: Break apart numbers to make ten (8+6 = 8+2+4 = 10+4 = 14)
- Number Line: Jump forward on a number line
Vehicle counting: Combining different types of vehicles to find the total number of vehicles.
There are 8 cars and 9 trucks in the parking lot
We need to find the total number of vehicles
"Altogether" indicates we need to add the cars and trucks
8 + 9: Take 2 from 9 to make 8 into 10
8 + 2 = 10, and 9 - 2 = 7
So 10 + 7 = 17
Is 17 reasonable? Yes, because 8 + 9 = 17
There are 17 vehicles altogether.
• Make ten strategy: Break apart one number to make addition easier
• Counting strategy: Start with 8 and count 9 more: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
• Verification: Always check if the answer makes sense
Multi-step addition: A problem that requires adding more than two numbers together in sequence.
Emma starts with 12 candies, gets 5 more, then finds 3 more
Need to add all three amounts together
First: 12 + 5 = 17
Then: 17 + 3 = 20
We could also add 5 + 3 = 8 first, then 12 + 8 = 20
Does 20 make sense? Yes, because 12 + 5 + 3 = 20
Emma has 20 candies now.
• Associative property: We can group addends differently (12 + 5) + 3 = 12 + (5 + 3)
• Multi-step problem: Solve one step at a time
• Sequential addition: Add numbers in the order they appear
Addition: The process of combining two or more numbers to find their total.
Addends: The numbers that are added together.
Sum: The result of adding numbers together.
Addition word problem: A real-life situation expressed in words that requires addition to solve.
- READ: Carefully read the entire problem
- IDENTIFY: Find the numbers and what the problem asks for
- KEYWORDS: Look for addition clue words
- SET UP: Write the number sentence
- SOLVE: Calculate the answer
- CHECK: Verify if the answer makes sense
• Commutative Property: \(a + b = b + a\) (order doesn't matter)
• Identity Property: \(a + 0 = a\) (adding zero doesn't change the number)
• Associative Property: \(a + (b + c) = (a + b) + c\) (grouping doesn't matter)
Visual Addition Strategies
7 + 3 → Start at 7, count: 8, 9, 10
8 + 6 → 8 + 2 + 4 = 10 + 4 = 14
5 + 5 = 10, so 5 + 6 = 11 (one more than double)
4 + 3 → Start at 4, jump 3 spaces → land on 7
Patterns: 5+5, 6+6, 7+7
Tricks: Use doubles, make 10