Step-by-step Maths Level 3: Counting in steps of 2, 3 and 5
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 3 counting to 1000 chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Counting in steps of 2, 3 and 5
We can count in steps of 2, 3 or 5. Each new number is the step more than the last one.
Start from 0 or from another number. Write the new numbers one by one.
Key ideas
- Count in twos: each number is 2 more.
- Count in threes: each number is 3 more.
- Count in fives: each number is 5 more.
Method. Count on in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 46. We count from this number.46
- Add 2 each time. We count on in twos.46 + 2 = 48; 48 + 2 = 50
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.48, 50, 52
Check. Count back in twos from 52 to check. You reach 46.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 more than the last.
Method. Count back in threes by adding or taking away 3 each time.
- Start at 30. We count from this number.30
- Take 3 each time. We count back in threes.30 - 3 = 27; 27 - 3 = 24
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.27, 24, 21
Check. Count on in threes from 21 to check. You reach 30.
Watch out. The step is 3. Each new number is 3 less than the last.
Method. Count on in tens by adding or taking away 10 each time.
- Start at 340. We count from this number.340
- Add 10 each time. We count on in tens.340 + 10 = 350; 350 + 10 = 360
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.350, 360, 370
Check. Count back in tens from 370 to check. You reach 340.
Watch out. The step is 10. Each new number is 10 more than the last.
Watch out
Watch out. Counting in threes from 30 gives 33, 36, 39. Do not add 1 each time.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Skip-count out loud with the child. Try the twos and fives on a hundred square and colour each number.
Exercise 1D Practice: counting in twos, threes and fives
Non-calculatorMethod. Count back in threes by adding or taking away 3 each time.
- Start at 36. We count from this number.36
- Take 3 each time. We count back in threes.36 - 3 = 33; 33 - 3 = 30
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.33, 30, 27
Check. Count on in threes from 27 to check. You reach 36.
Watch out. The step is 3. Each new number is 3 less than the last.
Method. Count back in threes by adding or taking away 3 each time.
- Start at 784. We count from this number.784
- Take 3 each time. We count back in threes.784 - 3 = 781; 781 - 3 = 778
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.781, 778, 775
Check. Count on in threes from 775 to check. You reach 784.
Watch out. The step is 3. Each new number is 3 less than the last.
Method. Count back in fives by adding or taking away 5 each time.
- Start at 308. We count from this number.308
- Take 5 each time. We count back in fives.308 - 5 = 303; 303 - 5 = 298
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.303, 298, 293
Check. Count on in fives from 293 to check. You reach 308.
Watch out. The step is 5. Each new number is 5 less than the last.
Method. Count on in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 257. We count from this number.257
- Add 2 each time. We count on in twos.257 + 2 = 259; 259 + 2 = 261
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.259, 261, 263
Check. Count back in twos from 263 to check. You reach 257.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 more than the last.
Method. Count on in threes by adding or taking away 3 each time.
- Start at 211. We count from this number.211
- Add 3 each time. We count on in threes.211 + 3 = 214; 214 + 3 = 217
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.214, 217, 220
Check. Count back in threes from 220 to check. You reach 211.
Watch out. The step is 3. Each new number is 3 more than the last.
Method. Count on in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 657. We count from this number.657
- Add 2 each time. We count on in twos.657 + 2 = 659; 659 + 2 = 661
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.659, 661, 663
Check. Count back in twos from 663 to check. You reach 657.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 more than the last.
Method. Count on in threes by adding or taking away 3 each time.
- Start at 48. We count from this number.48
- Add 3 each time. We count on in threes.48 + 3 = 51; 51 + 3 = 54
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.51, 54, 57
Check. Count back in threes from 57 to check. You reach 48.
Watch out. The step is 3. Each new number is 3 more than the last.
Method. Count back in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 663. We count from this number.663
- Take 2 each time. We count back in twos.663 - 2 = 661; 661 - 2 = 659
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.661, 659, 657
Check. Count on in twos from 657 to check. You reach 663.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 less than the last.
Method. Count back in fives by adding or taking away 5 each time.
- Start at 834. We count from this number.834
- Take 5 each time. We count back in fives.834 - 5 = 829; 829 - 5 = 824
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.829, 824, 819
Check. Count on in fives from 819 to check. You reach 834.
Watch out. The step is 5. Each new number is 5 less than the last.
Method. Count back in fives by adding or taking away 5 each time.
- Start at 884. We count from this number.884
- Take 5 each time. We count back in fives.884 - 5 = 879; 879 - 5 = 874
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.879, 874, 869
Check. Count on in fives from 869 to check. You reach 884.
Watch out. The step is 5. Each new number is 5 less than the last.
Method. Count on in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 134. We count from this number.134
- Add 2 each time. We count on in twos.134 + 2 = 136; 136 + 2 = 138
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.136, 138, 140
Check. Count back in twos from 140 to check. You reach 134.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 more than the last.
Method. Count back in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 109. We count from this number.109
- Take 2 each time. We count back in twos.109 - 2 = 107; 107 - 2 = 105
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.107, 105, 103
Check. Count on in twos from 103 to check. You reach 109.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 less than the last.
Method. Count on in fives by adding or taking away 5 each time.
- Start at 205. We count from this number.205
- Add 5 each time. We count on in fives.205 + 5 = 210; 210 + 5 = 215
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.210, 215, 220
Check. Count back in fives from 220 to check. You reach 205.
Watch out. The step is 5. Each new number is 5 more than the last.
Method. Count back in fives by adding or taking away 5 each time.
- Start at 560. We count from this number.560
- Take 5 each time. We count back in fives.560 - 5 = 555; 555 - 5 = 550
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.555, 550, 545
Check. Count on in fives from 545 to check. You reach 560.
Watch out. The step is 5. Each new number is 5 less than the last.
Method. Count back in twos by adding or taking away 2 each time.
- Start at 201. We count from this number.201
- Take 2 each time. We count back in twos.201 - 2 = 199; 199 - 2 = 197
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.199, 197, 195
Check. Count on in twos from 195 to check. You reach 201.
Watch out. The step is 2. Each new number is 2 less than the last.
Method. Count on in threes by adding or taking away 3 each time.
- Start at 297. We count from this number.297
- Add 3 each time. We count on in threes.297 + 3 = 300; 300 + 3 = 303
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.300, 303, 306
Check. Count back in threes from 306 to check. You reach 297.
Watch out. The step is 3. Each new number is 3 more than the last.