This cheat sheet helps young students learn addition and subtraction facts with numbers up to 5. These facts are some of the first math facts children memorize and use. Students need them to count objects, compare small groups, and solve simple story problems.
A clear reference gives them a quick way to see how numbers fit together.
The main ideas are adding to make a total, subtracting to find what is left, and using number bonds to show parts and wholes. Students learn that 2 + 3 = 5 means two parts join to make five. They also learn that 5 - 3 = 2 means starting with five and taking away three.
Fact families show how the same three numbers can make related addition and subtraction facts.
Key Facts
- Addition means putting groups together, such as 2 + 1 = 3.
- Subtraction means taking away from a group, such as 5 - 2 = 3.
- The total in an addition fact is the number you get after joining the parts, such as 4 + 1 = 5.
- The difference in a subtraction fact is the number left, such as 4 - 3 = 1.
- Zero does not change a number in addition, so 5 + 0 = 5 and 0 + 5 = 5.
- Taking away zero leaves the same number, so 5 - 0 = 5.
- Taking away the whole group leaves zero, so 5 - 5 = 0.
- A fact family for 2, 3, and 5 is 2 + 3 = 5, 3 + 2 = 5, 5 - 2 = 3, and 5 - 3 = 2.
Vocabulary
- Addition
- Addition is putting two groups together to find how many there are in all.
- Subtraction
- Subtraction is taking some away from a group to find how many are left.
- Sum
- The sum is the answer to an addition problem.
- Difference
- The difference is the answer to a subtraction problem.
- Number bond
- A number bond shows a whole number and the smaller parts that make it.
- Fact family
- A fact family is a group of related addition and subtraction facts using the same numbers.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Counting the first group again instead of counting on can lead to mistakes because it makes it easier to skip or repeat a number.
- Mixing up plus and minus signs is wrong because + means join groups, while - means take away.
- Writing the bigger number as an answer every time is wrong because subtraction can make a smaller number, such as 5 - 4 = 1.
- Forgetting zero facts causes errors because adding 0 or subtracting 0 keeps the number the same.
- Using unrelated numbers in a fact family is wrong because all four facts must use the same three numbers, such as 1, 4, and 5.
Practice Questions
- 1 What is 2 + 3?
- 2 What is 5 - 1?
- 3 Fill in the missing number: 4 + __ = 5.
- 4 How can the same number bond for 1, 4, and 5 help you write both an addition fact and a subtraction fact?