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Step-by-step practice: Maths · Level 2Chapter 5 · Adding within 20
Step-by-step Maths Level 2 · Adding within 20 · Lesson 5.4

Step-by-step Maths Level 2: Adding zero

Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 2 adding within 20 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

5.4

Adding zero

Level 2
Add zero, and see that adding zero does not change a number

Zero means none. When you add zero, you add nothing.

So the number stays the same, whether zero is first or second in the sum.

Key ideas

  • Adding zero does not change a number.
  • 9 + 0 = 9 and 0 + 9 = 9.
  • Zero can go first or second.
Worked example 5.4.1
9 + 0 = ?

Method. Adding zero means we add nothing. The number stays the same.

  1. Look at the number. It is the number we start with.
    9
  2. Add zero. Zero adds no more things.
    9 + 0 = 9
  3. Write the answer. The number does not change.
    9

Check. Take zero away from 9: it is still 9.

Watch out. Adding zero never changes a number, whether zero is first or second.

Worked example 5.4.2
0 + 14 = ?

Method. Adding zero means we add nothing. The number stays the same.

  1. Look at the number. It is the number we start with.
    14
  2. Add zero. Zero adds no more things.
    0 + 14 = 14
  3. Write the answer. The number does not change.
    14

Check. Take zero away from 14: it is still 14.

Watch out. Adding zero never changes a number, whether zero is first or second.

Worked example 5.4.3
17 + 0 = ?

Method. Adding zero means we add nothing. The number stays the same.

  1. Look at the number. It is the number we start with.
    17
  2. Add zero. Zero adds no more things.
    17 + 0 = 17
  3. Write the answer. The number does not change.
    17

Check. Take zero away from 17: it is still 17.

Watch out. Adding zero never changes a number, whether zero is first or second.

Watch out

Watch out. Some children think adding zero makes the number zero. It does not.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “If we have 6 sweets and get none more, how many do we have?”

Exercise 5D  Practice: adding zero

Non-calculator
1
F7 + 0 = ?
2
F18 + 0 = ?
3
F6 + 0 = ?
4
F11 + 0 = ?
5
F13 + 0 = ?
6
F15 + 0 = ?
7
F0 + 4 = ?
8
F2 + 0 = ?
9
F0 + 6 = ?
10
F19 + 0 = ?
11
F0 + 20 = ?
12
F4 + 0 = ?
13
F17 + 0 = ?
14
F20 + 0 = ?
15
F0 + 13 = ?
16
F1 + 0 = ?

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