Addition

The numbers in an addition operation have names.

5 + 8 = 13

The five and eight are addends. Addends are the values or the numbers added together.

Eight is called a sum. Sum is a very specific word that means the answer to an addition problem.

Of course, we can also call eight the “answer”.  Can you think of any other words for answer?

Think about it. Write them down. Share with a classmate. Include any words your classmate shares with you.

Let’s start with looking at examples using the word:

“sum”.

39 + 58 = 97   is said as, “39 and 58 is 97”

Sometimes, we need to focus on the answer and make it the most important part of a sentence.  The sum goes at the beginning of the sentence telling others that this sentence is about the answer.  The word “sum” is used in a phrase, “the sum of.”  This sentence looks like this:

“The sum of 39 and 58 is 97.”

The phrase “the sum of” goes in front of the addition equation.  The addition equation could be written like this:  97 = 39 + 68.

Let’s look at other examples:

16 + 12 = 28   is said as, “the sum of 16 plus 12 is 28.”

24 = 12 + 12  is said as, “the sum of 12 plus 12 is 24.”