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QQuanta KidsBy IIT & ISB Alumni
← Back to Addition & Subtraction to 20

Concept 3 of 6

Make Ten to Add

1

Today's big idea

Fill one number up to ten, then add what is left.

9 + 5: give 1 to make 10, and 4 is left. 10 + 4 = 14.

2

How it works

👀 What's going on?

9 + 5 can feel hard. Making a ten makes it easy.

💡 Here's the trick

9 + 5: give 1 to make ten10+410 + 4 = 14The gold square moved over to fill the ten

Move just enough from one number to fill the other up to ten, then add what is left.

9 + 5: give 1 to the 9 to make 10, and 4 is left. 10 + 4 = 14.

✍️ Try it

8 + 6: give 2 to make 10, and 4 is left. 10 + 4 = 14.

⚠️ Watch out

Move only enough to make ten, then add the leftover.

3

Watch me solve one

Quanta solves it

“Watch how I think through one of these — then you try.”

THE PROBLEM

“What is 8 + 6?”

  1. 1

    Make a ten first

    Give 2 from the 6 to the 8 to make 10.

  2. 2

    Add the leftover

    4 is left, so 10 + 4.

  3. 3

    Answer ✓

    8 + 6 = 14

Now you try one — same steps, different story 👇

4

See it in action

⚡ Time to play!

How many does 9 need to reach ten? Take it from the 5.

9 + 5

9 + ? = 10

5

Quick check

✅ VERIFICATION

Use make ten: 7 + 5 = ?

⚡ Finish the activity above first to answer.

Keep going!

Up next: Subtracting Within 20

Start at the number and count back.

Concept 4 of 6