Grade 1 · Unit 1: Number and place value

The equals sign

= means “is the same as”.

A fair balance

A balance is level when both sides are the same. The equals sign = works like a balance. It means “is the same as”.

Both sides balance

3 + 4 = 7 is a number sentence. We can also write 7 = 3 + 4. Both sides have the same value.

Order in adding

5 + 2 = 7 and 2 + 5 = 7. When we add, the order does not matter. But taking away is different: 7 − 2 = 5, but 2 − 7 is not 5!

Make 20

13 + 7 = 20, so 20 − 7 = 13. These facts belong to one fact family. We can check a take-away sum by adding: 13 + 7 = 20 ✓

Add or take away?

Read the story carefully. Do things join together? Add. Do things go away? Take away.

What I learnt

• I know = means “is the same as”.
• I know adding in any order gives the same total.
• I can check a take-away sum by adding.