Addition

Addition Equation Definitions

In an addition equation such as 5 + 6 = 11 :
5 is an addend
+ is the plus sign
6 is an addend
= is the equals sign 
11 is the sum

addend + addend = sum

Adding two three digit numbers (for example 529 + 733) involves several steps.

• Place one number above the other so that the hundreds, tens and ones places are lined up. Draw a line under the bottom number.

529
733

• Add the ones place digits (9 + 3 = 12). This number is larger than 10 so place a one above the tens place column and place the two below the line in the ones place column.

 1
529
733
  2

• Add the tens place digits (1 + 2 + 3 = 6) and place the answer below the line and in the tens place column.

 1
529
733
 62

• Add the numbers in the hundreds place column (5 + 7 = 12) and place the 2 below the line and before the other number below the line. Place the 1 from the twelve above the thousands place column.

1
 529
 733
 262

• The thousands place column only has a 1 in it which should be placed below the line in the thousands place column.

  529
  733
 1262

How to add four digit numbers (for example 4529 + 6733):

• Place one number above the other so that the thousands', hundreds', tens' and ones' places are lined up. Draw a line under the bottom number.

4529
6733

• Add the ones' place digits (9 + 3 = 12). This number is larger than 10 so place a one above the tens' place column and place the two below the line in the ones' place column.

  1
4529
6733
   2

• Add the tens' place digits (1 + 2 + 3 = 6) and place the answer below the line and in the tens' place column.

4529
6733
  62

• Add the numbers in the hundreds' place column (5 + 7 = 12) and place the 2 below the line and before the other number below the line. Place the 1 from the twelve above the thousands' place column.

1
4529
6733
 262

• Add the digits in the thousands' place column (1 + 4 + 6 = 11) and place the answer below the line in the thousands' place column.

 4529
 6733
11262

Adding two five digit numbers (for example 94,529 + 76,733) is illustrated

111 1
 94529
 76733
171262

Adding two six digit numbers (for example 694,529 + 476,733) is illustrated

1111 1
 694529
 476733
1171262

Adding two seven digit numbers (for example 8,694,529 + 3,476,733) is illustrated

11111 1
 8694529
 3476733
12171262