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Addition in any order

Understand and apply the commutative property of addition: addends can be added in any order

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Ce que l'enfant saura faire ensuite

  • Explain that 3 + 8 gives the same answer as 8 + 3
  • Use commutativity to choose the larger number to count on from
  • Demonstrate that subtraction is not commutative (5 − 3 ≠ 3 − 5)

1 · Lis

You already know how to put two groups together to add. It does not matter which number you say first. 3 + 8 and 8 + 3 both give the same answer, 11.

Tap each star and count out loud.
3 stars, then 8 more, is 11. Flip it to 8 stars and 3 more, and it is still 11.
Try it together

Mia picks 4 red apples and 5 green apples. She counts the red ones first: 4 + 5 = 9 apples. Next time she counts the green ones first: 5 + 4 = 9 apples. Same total, either way.

Tap each apple and count out loud.
Good to know

When you count on, start from the bigger number. It is faster. For 3 + 8, start at 8 and count on: 9, 10, 11.

Good to know

Addition can flip, but subtraction cannot. 5 - 3 is not the same as 3 - 5. Order only stays free for addition.

Add numbers in any order and the answer stays the same, but subtraction always keeps its order.

À lire aussi

Properties of addition

When you add numbers, there are some handy rules to know.

The first rule is the order rule. You can add numbers in any order and the answer stays the same. 4 + 2 is 6, and 2 + 4 is 6 too. Swapping never changes the total. This helps you pick the easy way: start with the bigger number and count on the smaller one.

The second rule is the grouping rule. When you add three numbers, you can add any two first. For 2 + 3 + 4, you can do 2 + 3 first, or 3 + 4 first. You get 9 either way.

The third rule is the zero rule. Adding 0 to any number changes nothing. 0 + 4 is just 4.

Visualizing the Commutative Property of Addition

This is a picture tool you can play with. It shows two groups of things being added, like 3 dots and 8 dots. Then it swaps the order and shows 8 dots and 3 dots. You can see with your own eyes that the total pile is the same size both times. Play with it to see that adding in any order always gives the same answer.

2 · Regarde

En anglais

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Imprimer une fiche d'exercicesFormat A4, avec une page de corrigés pour les adultes. Sans écran, sans internet.

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Addition in any order · Mathematics, ages 6 to 7 · LightMySky