Welcome to Basic Numeracy!
At age 9, you’re strengthening the building blocks of math. Let’s learn about place value, addition, subtraction, and some easy word problems. You’ll see how numbers work together and how to solve problems step by step.
1) Place Value
Place value tells us what each digit in a number means depending on where it sits.
- Ones – the rightmost digit.
- Tens – the second digit from the right.
- Hundreds – the third digit from the right.
Example: In 342,
- 3 is hundreds (300)
- 4 is tens (40)
- 2 is ones (2)
2) Addition
Addition means putting numbers together to find the total.
- Line up the numbers by place value (ones under ones, tens under tens).
- Start with the ones, add them. If the sum is 10 or more, carry over to the tens (a new digit).
- Move to tens, add, carry if needed, and continue to the left.
Example: 48 + 27
48
+27
----
75
3) Subtraction
Subtraction means taking away a number from another number.
- Line up by place value.
- Subtract from ones first. If you don’t have enough in a place value, borrow from the next left place value (e.g., swap 1 ten for 10 ones).
Example: 63 - 29
63
-29
34
4) Word Problems (Simple Real-Life Situations)
Word problems help you apply math to real life. Read carefully, underline numbers, and decide what operation to use.
- Example 1: If you have 15 marbles and your friend gives you 7 more, how many marbles do you have in total?
- Example 2: You have 20 stickers and give away 9. How many stickers remain?
Try this: 12 + 9 = ? and 20 - 7 = ?
5) Quick Practice
Fill in the blanks and check your answers by redoing the steps:
- 34 + 59 = _____
- 72 - 28 = _____
- First, what is 3 tens and 7 ones? That’s ____.
Tips for Success
- Always line up numbers by place value.
- Use drawing or counters if you’re stuck.
- Check your answer by doing the opposite operation (addition vs subtraction).