What You'll Learn
- Identify when a sum exceeds 9
- Split a sum into tens and ones mentally
- Carry confidently without writing intermediate steps
Explanation
When 7 + 6 equals 13, your mind holds two pieces: the 3 (ones) and the 1 (ten). Think "thirteen" as a complete unit before you move on.
A useful trick: make one number "friendly" by borrowing from the other. For 8 + 5, take 2 from 5 to make 8 into 10, leaving 3. Answer: 13.
Carrying is not extra work — it is a shortcut. Instead of counting 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, you jump directly to the answer.
Practice the "make ten" strategy until it feels automatic. It appears again in harder stages.
Pro Tips
- • Visualize a tens frame: when ones overflow, slide an extra ten into the next column.
- • Drill the hardest facts (7+8, 8+9, 9+9) separately — they appear most often.
- • Say "carry the one" quietly in your head until the habit sticks.
Practice Exercises
Work through each problem mentally. Click "Show Answer" when you're ready to check.
- 1. 7 + 6 = ?
- 2. 8 + 5 = ?
- 3. 9 + 4 = ?
- 4. 6 + 7 = ?
- 5. 8 + 8 = ?
- 6. 9 + 7 = ?
- 7. 5 + 8 = ?
- 8. 9 + 9 = ?
- 9. 7 + 8 = ?
- 10. 6 + 9 = ?