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      Choose the most efficient strategy to add two 3-digit numbers

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can choose the most efficient strategy to add two 3-digit numbers.

      Key learning points

      1. By looking carefully at the addends, we can choose the most efficient addition strategy.
      2. Sometimes an adjusting strategy is the most efficient.
      3. Sometimes a redistributing strategy is the most efficient.
      4. Sometimes a partitioning and bridging strategy is the most efficient.

      Keywords

      • Partition - Partitioning is the act of splitting an object or value down into smaller parts.

      • Adjust - When you adjust you make a small change to a number. This can make a calculation easier to solve mentally.

      • Redistribute / redistribution - Redistribution is where part of one addend is moved to another addend.

      • Efficient - Working efficiently means finding a way to solve a problem quickly whilst also maintaining accuracy.

      Common misconception

      Pupils will often know one method, such as partitioning, and stick to it without trying any others. Sometimes, some pupils will be very reluctant to move away from written methods such as columns.

      Reinforce the idea of bravery and courage to try new methods. Remind them that efficiency is partly about speed and they might find that other methods only become quick with practice!

      Teacher tip

      Pupils will not always agree with the most efficient strategy selected on these slides. Efficiency is about speed and accuracy. Pupil's speed will develop with the strategy they feel most confident about. This is about mental addition so wherever possible get the children to do it in their heads.

      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 is the number pair to ten for 6?

      Correct Answer: 4, four

      Q2.
      What is the number pair to 100 for 30?

      Correct Answer: 70, seventy

      Q3.
      Each bundle contains ten straws. How many straws are there altogether?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 120, one hundred and twenty

      Q4.
      Match the units to their value.

      Correct Answer:3 tens,30

      30

      Correct Answer:6 tens,60

      60

      Correct Answer:4 ones,4

      4

      Correct Answer:10 tens,100

      100

      Q5.
      Fill in the missing number in this sequence: 70, 80, 90, 100, , 120, 130, 140

      Correct Answer: 110, one hundred and ten

      Q6.
      Fill in the missing number in this sequence: 170, 175, 180, 185, , 195, 200, 205

      Correct Answer: 190, one hundred and ninety

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      102 + 130 = 232 is calculated using partitioning, adjustment or redistribution and represented using base ten. Which of the three methods is shown?

      An image in a quiz
      Partitioning
      Adjustment
      Correct answer: Redistribution

      Q2.
      102 + 130 = 232 is calculated using partitioning, adjustment or redistribution and represented using base ten. Which of the three methods is shown?

      An image in a quiz
      Partitioning
      Correct answer: Adjustment
      Redistribution

      Q3.
      102 + 130 = 232 is calculated using partitioning, adjustment or redistribution and represented using base ten. Which of the three methods is shown?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: Partitioning
      Adjustment
      Redistribution

      Q4.
      Which of these two words describes how a solution is found 'efficiently'?

      Correct answer: quickly
      excitedly
      Correct answer: accurately
      importantly
      slowly

      Q5.
      Which method would be best for solving 507 + 260?

      Correct answer: Partitioning
      Adjustment
      Redistribution

      Q6.
      Match the equations with the method which was most efficient for finding the sum.

      Correct Answer:198 + 199,Adjustment

      Adjustment

      Correct Answer:345 + 201,Redistribution

      Redistribution

      Correct Answer:509 + 460,Partitioning

      Partitioning


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