Understanding Constant Additive Relationships in Math for 14-Year-Olds

What is a Constant Additive Relationship?

A constant additive relationship means that when you compare two quantities, the difference between them stays the same all the time.

Breaking it down:

• Constant means 'does not change.'
• Additive means adding or subtracting.
• A constant additive relationship means the amount you add or subtract is always the same.

Example to Understand

Imagine you and your friend are collecting stickers. You have 5 stickers, and your friend has 10 stickers. The difference between your stickers and your friend's stickers is 5 stickers.

If every day you get 3 new stickers, and your friend also gets 3 new stickers every day, the difference between your stickers will still be 5 stickers. This difference (5) is constant.

Why is it Important?

Knowing constant additive relationships helps you understand patterns and solve problems involving adding or subtracting the same number repeatedly. It is useful for understanding real-world problems like distances, money, and time.

How to Recognize a Constant Additive Relationship?

1. Look at two related quantities or numbers.
2. Subtract one from the other each time.
3. If the difference is always the same number, you have a constant additive relationship.

Summary

A constant additive relationship means the difference between two amounts does not change as both amounts increase or decrease. You can find it by checking if the difference between numbers stays the same as you move along.