Number Bonds, Explained
Number bonds are pairs of numbers that combine to make a third. For instance 1 & 4, 2 & 3 both make five. They are the number bonds of five.
Maths Topics
Dictionary
Addition An operation joining two or more sets where the result is the whole. When adding we use the plus sign '+'.
Commutative property The order in which two numbers are added does not affect the results. The commutative property does not apply to subtraction.
Number line A line that shows numbers ordered by magnitude from left to right or bottom to top; equal intervals are marked and labelled.
Addition
What is addition?: 'An operation joining two or more sets, where the result is the whole.'
Adding is the most basic of operations, or at least the easiest to understand. "I have two apples. I get three more. How many apples do I have now?".
As with multiplication, addition shows the commutative property. In other words, if I started with three apples and got two more, I will still have five. See this for yourself with a sample Year 2 addition exercise. Click the image at right to load our addition games.
It often helps to use a number line to add. This is useful when we add negative numbers, which is the same as subtracting. You can show this as a series of right- and leftward jumps.
Things get a lot more complicated when we need to add fractions. See how this is done on our fractions page.
Addition Stories
Calculating with Money – making maths easy
Most children are likely to have got a basic grasp of the notion of pennies and pounds, and how they relate, from an early age... If you struggle with decimal calculations, it might just help to shove a pound sign in front of the numbers.
Number lines in arithmetic
According to the Maths-Whizz Teachers' Resource dictionary, a number line is: "a line that shows numbers ordered by magnitude from left to right, or bottom to top." Pretty simple? Yes, and then again, no. The number line can be a powerful beast.
Eyeing up Maths Answers
Humans were not born to do maths. Those, like me, who don’t dream in numbers, think this is stating the obvious, but it’s worth remembering, even so. The human brain that lets us add, subtract, read, write, walk and chew gum (sometimes at the same time!) evolved from a brain that had different demands imposed [...]
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