How to add natural numbers?
Method used: column adding, from right to left (traditional)
- Stack the numbers on top of each other.
- The ones digits line up in the first column from the right.
- The tens digits line up in the next column to the left and so on...
- Add column by column; start with the column on the right
- Add the digits in the ones column.
- Change the order in which the numbers are added, the sum stays the same. Break some number(s) into component parts, the sum stays the same.
- If the sum above is a two-digit number:
- Write the ones digit down at the base of the ones column.
- Carry over the tens digit to the tens column. Write this digit above that column.
- Add it with the rest of the digits in that column.
- If the sum is a one-digit number:
- Write the ones digit down at the base of the ones column.
- Then add the digits in the tens column, exactly as you did for the digits in the ones column.
- You can change the order in which the numbers are added and the sum stays the same. Or break some number(s) into component parts, the sum stays the same.
- If you have more columns to the left (hundreds, thousands, and so on), continue with the addition exactly as you did with the ones column.