What is column addition?

When writing down sums, separate the numbers into ones, tens, hundreds and thousands.

List the numbers in a column and always start adding with the ones first.

• Estimate first and check afterwards - it's a good idea to estimate a rough answer first and then check your actual answer.
• Order doesn't matter - remember that 345 + 129 is the same as 129 + 345.
• Key words - look out for these words in problems: total, sum, altogether, more. They all indicate an addition calculation.

Are you looking for more resources on column addition? This animated short film is from the BBC Teach series, Hypatia's Mathematical Maze, and introduces the concept of adding and subtracting using written methods.

BBC Teach has thousands of free, curriculum-linked resources to help deliver lessons - all arranged by subject and age group.