266 Essential Skills for Health Careers Success
Adding Whole Numbers
Addition is the process of combining two or more numbers. The num-
bers being added together are called addends. The addends of a written
addition problem are separated by an addition sign (+). The answer to an
addition problem is called the sum and comes after an equal sign (=) in
addition problems.
Examples: 5 + 4 = 9
4 + 6 = 10
When adding numbers that contain two or more digits, it is best to
write numbers in a column, aligning the place value of the digits such as
the ones, tens, or hundreds. Make sure the numbers in each column line up
beneath one another. This alignment helps you add the correct numbers
together. Always add the numbers in the right column fi rst, before moving
to the columns to the left.
Example:
21
+ 37
58
This problem can be rewritten as:
2 tens and 1 ones
+ 3 tens and 7 ones
5 tens and 8 ones = 58
Sometimes, addition problems require you to carry over digits to the left.
Example:
36
+ 45
First add the ones column (6 + 5 = 11) and carry the remaining 1 to the
tens column. Then, add the tens column.
1
36
+ 45
81
Example:
788
+ 57
845
addition
the process of combining
two or more numbers to
obtain their total value