Early Math · Grade K

Adding and Taking Away Within 10

Quick answer

Adding puts groups together to find how many in all. Taking away removes some from a group to find how many are left. Both can be shown with objects, fingers or drawings, and both are written with number sentences such as 3 + 2 = 5 and 5 − 2 = 3. Taking away undoes putting together, which is why each addition fact comes with a subtraction fact.

What you'll learn

  • Show adding and taking away with objects and drawings
  • Solve story problems within 10
  • Add and subtract within 5 quickly

Put groups together

You have 33 red blocks. You get 22 blue blocks. How many blocks do you have in all?

Three and two more A ten-frame with three blue dots and then two orange dots, five dots in all.
Three and two more

Count them all: 11, 22, 33, 44, 55. You have 55 blocks.

We write it like this:

3+2=53 + 2 = 5

Say it: “three plus two is five.” The ++ sign means put them together. The == sign means “is the same as.”

Take some away

You have 55 grapes. You eat 22 of them. How many are left?

Start with 55. Take 22 away. Count what is left: 11, 22, 33.

5−2=35 - 2 = 3

Say it: “five minus two is three.” The −- sign means take away.

Why taking away is the opposite of adding

Put 33 and 22 together. You get 55.

Now take the 22 back away. You are back to 33.

Taking away undoes putting together. That is why these facts come in pairs:

3+2=55−2=33 + 2 = 5 \qquad 5 - 2 = 3

If you know one, you can find the other.

Ways to show it

You can show adding and taking away in lots of ways:

  • with blocks, beans or toys
  • with your fingers
  • with a picture you draw
  • by acting it out, like 33 kids and then 22 more kids

All of these are ways to see the same math.

Facts to know by heart

Try to know these fast, with no counting:

AddTake away
1+1=21 + 1 = 22−1=12 - 1 = 1
2+1=32 + 1 = 33−1=23 - 1 = 2
2+2=42 + 2 = 44−2=24 - 2 = 2
3+1=43 + 1 = 44−1=34 - 1 = 3
3+2=53 + 2 = 55−2=35 - 2 = 3
4+1=54 + 1 = 55−1=45 - 1 = 4

Worked examples

Common mistakes

Practice problems

  1. What is 2+32 + 3?

    Answer

    55

    Full solution

    Start at 22. Count on 33: 33, 44, 55.

  2. What is 4−14 - 1?

    Answer

    33

    Full solution

    Start at 44. Take 11 away. Count back one: 33.

  3. What is 3+33 + 3?

    Three and three more A ten-frame with three blue dots and then three orange dots.
    Three and three more
    Answer

    66

    Full solution

    Count all the dots in the frame. There are 66.

  4. Leo has 55 cars. He gives 22 away. How many are left?

    Answer

    33

    Full solution

    Giving away is taking away. 5−2=35 - 2 = 3.

  5. There are 44 ducks. 44 more come. How many ducks now?

    Answer

    88

    Full solution

    More come, so put them together. 4+4=84 + 4 = 8.

  6. What is 5−55 - 5?

    Answer

    00

    Full solution

    Take them all away. None are left.

  7. What is 7+27 + 2?

    Answer

    99

    Full solution

    Start at 77. Count on 22: 88, 99.

  8. There are 99 cookies. Dad eats 33. How many are left?

    Answer

    66

    Full solution

    Start at 99. Count back 33: 88, 77, 66.

  9. You know 1+4=51 + 4 = 5. What is 5−45 - 4?

    Answer

    11

    Full solution

    Taking away undoes adding. Put 11 and 44 together to get 55. Take the 44 away, and 11 is left.

  10. Kim adds 5+25 + 2. She counts ”55, 66” and says 66. What went wrong?

    Hint

    Which number should she say first?

    Answer

    She counted the 55 again. The answer is 77.

    Full solution

    To count on from 55, the first number to say is 66. Then 77.

    Kim said 55 as one of her 22 steps. So she only moved on by one.

    5+2=75 + 2 = 7.

Frequently asked questions

How do kindergartners learn to add?

By putting two groups of objects together and counting how many there are in all, then writing it as a number sentence like 3 + 2 = 5.

What does take away mean?

Removing some objects from a group and counting how many are left. 5 take away 2 leaves 3, written 5 − 2 = 3.

What are story problems?

Short stories that need adding or taking away, such as 'Sam has 4 grapes and eats 1. How many are left?'

Which facts should kindergartners know by heart?

Adding and subtracting within 5, such as 2 + 3 = 5 and 4 − 1 = 3.

Why is taking away the opposite of adding?

It undoes it. Put 3 and 2 together to get 5, then take the 2 away again, and 3 are left.

What to learn next

Standards alignment

This lesson covers the following Common Core State Standards for Mathematics.

  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.1Operations and Algebraic ThinkingRepresent addition and subtraction with objects, fingers, mental images, drawings, sounds (e.g., claps), acting out situations, verbal explanations, expressions, or equations.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.2Operations and Algebraic ThinkingSolve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.K.OA.A.5Operations and Algebraic ThinkingFluently add and subtract within 5.
For teachersTick to print a blank worksheet; leave it clear to print the lesson with the full answer key.