"You do not carry a boulder up the mountain. You break it into pebbles and carry them one at a time."

Breaking It Down

To add two numbers mentally, break the second number into tens and ones, then add each part in turn.

Let's add 34 + 52 Break it: 52 = 50 + 2 Add tens: 34 + 50 = 84 Add ones: 84 + 2 = 86

Now you try. Type your answer and check.

43 + 25 =

61 + 34 =

22 + 45 =

Insight

By breaking the second number apart, you turn one hard problem into two easy ones. Tens first, ones second — no carrying, no confusion.

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