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      Explain what happens when you add and subtract ten to a multiple of ten

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can explain what happens when you add and subtract ten to a multiple of ten.

      Key learning points

      1. Ten can be added to or subtracted from a multiple of ten.
      2. When you add ten to a multiple of ten the tens number increases by one
      3. When you subtract ten from a multiple of ten the tens number decreases by one
      4. If 3 + 1 is equal to 4 then 3 tens + 1 ten is equal to 4 tens which is equal to 40

      Keywords

      • Increase - Make something bigger (in size or quantity).

      • Decrease - Make something smaller (in size or quantity).

      • Multiple - A multiple is the result of multiplying a number by another whole number.

      Common misconception

      Children may not see the link between adding ones and adding tens. They may add or subtract one instead of ten or muddle addition and subtraction, so may subtract ten instead of add ten to a number.

      Reinforce understanding of unitising by describing each group of objects in ones or tens, e.g. five cubes plus 1 cube, 5 tens plus 1 ten and talk through what is happening. Show this with equipment in tens and ones such as straws or cubes.

      Teacher tip

      Being able to unitise is fundamental in understanding place value, it allows children to move from additive to multiplicative thinking which will be needed for future work on multiplication and division. When counting and grouping objects, reinforce unitising language e.g. this is 3 groups of ten.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What number comes next in the counting sequence? 30, 40, 50,

      30
      40
      50
      Correct answer: 60

      Q2.
      What number is missing in the counting sequence? 50, 60, , 80, 90

      50
      60
      Correct answer: 70
      80
      90

      Q3.
      What number comes next in the backwards counting sequence? 30, 20,

      Correct answer: 10
      20
      30
      40

      Q4.
      What multiple of 10 is the arrow pointing to on this number line?

      An image in a quiz
      10
      20
      Correct answer: 30
      40
      50

      Q5.
      Which arrow shows the position of 90 on this number line?

      An image in a quiz
      a
      b
      Correct answer: c

      Q6.
      What is a good estimate for this multiple of 10 shown on the number line?

      An image in a quiz
      0
      Correct answer: 10
      30
      30

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the missing number?

      An image in a quiz
      30
      Correct answer: 40
      50

      Q2.
      Ten more than 50 is

      40
      50
      Correct answer: 60

      Q3.
      Ten more than 40 is 50, so ten less than 50 is

      30
      Correct answer: 40
      50

      Q4.
      Match the equation to the correct multiple of 10

      Correct Answer:40 + 10 =,50

      50

      Correct Answer:80 - 10 =,70

      70

      Correct Answer:70 + 10 =,80

      80

      Correct Answer:20 - 10 =,10

      10

      Q5.
      Ten less than 70 is

      Correct answer: 60
      80
      70

      Q6.
      Match the pairs of equations to complete the sentence. I know that so

      Correct Answer:3 + 1 = 4 ,30 + 10 = 40

      30 + 10 = 40

      Correct Answer:1 + 5 = 6,10 + 50 = 60

      10 + 50 = 60

      Correct Answer:4 + 1 = 5,40 + 10 = 50

      40 + 10 = 50

      Correct Answer:6 + 1 = 7,60 + 10 = 70

      60 + 10 = 70


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