Math Core

Adding to 10 is easy: $10 + 3$ is 13, and $10 + 6$ is 16. So here is a trick. Turn a hard fact into a "10 plus" fact by making ten first.

Adding to 10

When you add a number to 10, just put it after the "1" in the teens.

$10 + 4 = 14$ and $10 + 7 = 17$ .

Make a ten

What is $9 + 4$ ?

9 needs just 1 more to make 10. Take 1 from the 4. That leaves 3.

🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🔵🟠 + 🟠🟠🟠

Now you have 10 and 3.

9 + 4 = 10 + 3 = 13

Make ten

Ask: how many more does the bigger number need to make 10?
Take that many from the other number.
Add what is left to 10.

Here are the pairs that make 10. They help a lot!

Number	Needs this many to make 10
9	1
8	2
7	3
6	4
5	5

Worked example: Make ten with 8

What is $8 + 6$ ?

8 needs 2 more to make 10. Break 6 into 2 and 4.

$8 + 2 = 10$ . Then $10 + 4 = 14$ .

$8 + 6 = 14$ .

Worked example: Make ten with 7

What is $7 + 5$ ?

7 needs 3 more to make 10. Break 5 into 3 and 2.

$7 + 3 = 10$ . Then $10 + 2 = 12$ .

$7 + 5 = 12$ .

Worked example: Start with the bigger number

What is $4 + 9$ ?

Make ten with the 9. It needs 1 more. Break 4 into 1 and 3.

$9 + 1 = 10$ . Then $10 + 3 = 13$ .

$4 + 9 = 13$ .

Common mistake

After you make 10, add only what is left over. For $8 + 6$ , you used 2 of the 6. Only 4 is left, so the answer is $10 + 4$ , not $10 + 6$ .

Practice

Practice 1

What is $10 + 6$ ?

Type a number.

Practice 2

What is $9 + 3$ ?

Type a number.

Practice 3

What is $8 + 4$ ?

Type a number.

Practice 4

You want to make ten to find $8 + 5$ . How should you break apart the 5?

Practice 5

What is $7 + 4$ ?

Type a number.

Practice 6

What is $9 + 7$ ?

Type a number.

Practice 7

Sam has 8 red blocks and 7 blue blocks. How many blocks does he have in all?

Type a number.