Speedy and accurate addition (Part II)


My last article ended by presenting a method of learning addition for those who have difficulty in dealing with the "carrying." However, as these children get comfortable with addition in this way we can introduce to them the conventional method of addition. This switchover is quick and easy for children if both the methods are presented before them simultaneously, as in the figure to your left.

When contrasting the lattice method of addition with the conventional method, we can show the child the differences in the placement of digits. The child sees the same "carry" displayed in both the methods. Furthermore, s/he sees that the diagonal columns in the lattice and the vertical columns in the conventional method form are identical, with five indicating the number of ones, two the number of tens, four the number of hundreds, and one the number of thousands.

A stage will come when the child has thoroughly understood the conventional method of addition and can accomplish the same task speedily. Speedy addition is required to perform two-place additions without using pencil and paper in the daily activities of adults: checking on the total of purchases, planning the number of plates/glasses/spoons/bowls for a party, budgeting, etc. Here there is a need to do the additions mentally. Probably no single technique for adding mentally is better than another. However, children, could be taught to use one of the following forms:

  1. Add the number of tens in one addend to the other addend, and then add the ones. For example: 64 + 38 is added as (64 + 30) + 8. Here, the steps are 64 + 30 = 94 and 94 + 8 = 102. Similarly, 28 + 57 is performed as 28 + 50 = 78, then 78 + 7 = 85.
  2. Add the ones digits of one addend to the other addend, then add the tens. Here 64 + 38 = (64 + 8) + 30. The steps used are 64 + 8 are 72; then 72 + 30 are 102. Likewise, the example 28 + 57 is added as 27 + 8 = 35 and 35 + 50 = 85.

We must take care of accuracy, also. Children who are efficient in carrying out the addition are never sure about their answer and always depend on teachers/adults for judging the accuracy of their work. Therefore, it is necessary to teach the child to check his own work. If taught, children can use formal checks satisfactorily. These checks not only help children perform confidently; they are useful throughout their life.

The copyright of the article Speedy and accurate addition (Part II) in Math for Kids is owned by Vidya Narayan Wadadekar . Permission to republish Speedy and accurate addition (Part II) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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