# Addition – Definition with Examples

» Addition – Definition with Examples

The addition is taking two or more numbers and adding them together, that is, it is the total sum of 2 or more numbers.

Example:

How many apples are there in all?

There are 7 apples in one basket and 4 apples in the other. So, we add 7 and 4 to find the total number of apples.

To add 7 and 4, we can count forward 4 steps from 7

The symbol used to indicate Addition is + (plus symbol).

So, 7 and 4 can be written as 7 + 4

An addition sentence is a mathematical expression that shows two or more values added together and their sum.

We can write the mathematical expression for 7 plus 4 equals 11 as:

The addition of small numbers can be done using your fingers too.

Examples:

Number charts are another way to add numbers.

Example: Add 57 and 16 using a hundred grid.

Numbers can also be added vertically.

Let’s add 57 and 16 vertically.

The numbers with more than 2 digits can also be added vertically. We always start adding from the ones digit and move towards the digits at the highest place.

Example 1: Marie bought a designer handbag for $231 and a belt for$199. How much did she spend on both?

To find the total cost, we need to add 231 and 199

We can add the numbers vertically as:

So, Marie spent \$430

Example 2: There are 2415 blue seats and 2770 red seats in a stadium. How many blue and red seats are there altogether?

Total number of seats = 2415 + 2770

= 5185 seats

## Practice Problems

We can introduce the concept of addition by relating it to everyday life using concrete objects. For example, if you have 3 marbles and you get 4 more, then you have a total of 3 + 4 = 7 marbles.

Adding two numbers mainly depends on the size of the numbers. For example, two small numbers like 7 and 2 can be added by counting on from the first number, i.e., start with 7 and then count on, “8, 9.” So 7 + 2 = 9. Small numbers can also be added using fingers, number lines, hundreds charts, or even mentally. Large numbers can be added vertically or horizontally using place value understanding.

Addition without regrouping is when the sum of the digits in each place value column is less than or equal to 9. Addition with regrouping is when the sum of the digits in at least one of the place value column is greater than 9.

Yes, since addition is commutative, we can add three numbers in any order. For example: 2 + 5 + 1 = 8, irrespective of the order in which the numbers are added.