--- title: "Addition and subtraction strategies" description: "Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-strategies-mt_PpWSHA-0kv source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-strategies-mt_PpWSHA-0kv.md retrieved: 2026-10-19 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Addition and subtraction strategies Use counting on and counting back as strategies for addition and subtraction Subject: Mathematics · Area: Addition & Subtraction · Ages 6 to 7 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-strategies-mt_PpWSHA-0kv ## Ready when they can - Add 8 + 3 by starting at 8 and counting on 3 (9, 10, 11) - Subtract 12 − 3 by counting back 3 from 12 (11, 10, 9) - Explain that counting on is a way to add ## Lesson: Counting on and counting back You already know how to add and take away. Here is a quick trick for both: counting on and counting back. Instead of starting from 1 every time, you start at one number and hop forward or backward. *(drawing: To add 8 + 3, start at 8 and count on three hops: 9, 10, 11. So 8 + 3 = 11.)* **Example.** Leo has 12 stickers and gives away 3. He starts at 12 and counts back three hops: 11, 10, 9. Leo has 9 stickers left. **Tip.** When you add, start at the bigger number. That means fewer hops to count. Say each number out loud as you hop so you do not lose your place. **Recap.** Counting on adds by hopping forward, and counting back subtracts by hopping backward, from one starting number. ## Practice 17 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Addition as combining or putting together two groups](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-as-combining-or-putting-together-two-groups-mt_OvyoRo47K-) - [One More Each Time](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/one-more-each-time-mt_sYpKWbq5ra) - [Subtraction as taking away or separating](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/subtraction-as-taking-away-or-separating-mt_zuKAX6lcYR) ## Opens up - [Addition and subtraction strategies (age 7+)](https://lightmysky.com/learn/mathematics/addition-and-subtraction-strategies-age-7-mt_zxST3MarI9)