Adding Three Numbers
āāā Adding three numbers at once? No problem! The secret is to look for friends first. Find a pair of numbers that are easy to add together, like friends that make 10!
Concept
When you have to add three numbers, like **4 + 7 + 6**, you don't have to add them in order. You can rearrange them to make the problem easier! šÆ **The "Find Friends First" Strategy:** 1. **Look at all three numbers:** For example, **4 + 7 + 6**. 2. **Find a pair of "friends":** Look for numbers that make 10, or a double. * In **4 + 7 + 6**, the numbers 4 and 6 are friends! They make 10. 3. **Add the friends first:** 4 + 6 = 10. 4. **Add the leftover number:** Now just add the 7. * 10 + 7 = 17. 5. **The Answer:** So, 4 + 7 + 6 = 17. This is much easier than adding 4+7 first! **Another Example:** Let's solve **5 + 8 + 5**. * Do you see the friends? The double **5 + 5**! * Add them first: 5 + 5 = 10. * Now add the leftover 8: 10 + 8 = 18.
Try it
Let's practice finding the friends! **Instructions:** For each problem, circle the two "friend" numbers first, add them, and then add the last number. **Problem 1: 8 + 2 + 5** * Circle the friends: **8 + 2** * 8 + 2 = 10 * 10 + 5 = ___ **Problem 2: 7 + 6 + 3** * Find the friends that make 10. * ___ + ___ = 10 * 10 + ___ = ___ **Problem 3: 4 + 5 + 4** * Find the double. * ___ + ___ = ___ * ___ + 5 = ___ **Your Turn!** 4. 9 + 5 + 1 = ___ 5. 6 + 8 + 4 = ___ 6. 2 + 7 + 8 = ___ **Word Problem Challenge:** 7. A monkey ate 7 bananas in the morning, 3 bananas in the afternoon, and 5 bananas at night. How many bananas did he eat in total? * Find the friends first!