Vocabulary - Addition and Subtraction

The vocabulary for addition and subtraction is a fundamental part of mathematics education, particularly for KS2 students. For addition, key terms include 'add', 'plus', 'make', 'sum', 'total', and 'altogether'. These words are used to describe the process of combining numbers to increase the total. Phrases such as 'one more', 'two more', 'ten more', and 'one hundred more' help quantify the increase. Questions like 'how many more to make...?' or 'how much more is...?' encourage students to think about the incremental changes to quantities. The concept of doubling or finding 'near doubles' is also introduced, as well as the term 'score' which can refer to the result of an addition or a specific number (20).

Conversely, subtraction vocabulary includes terms such as 'subtract', 'take away', 'minus', and 'less'. These words signify the action of removing a quantity from another, resulting in a lesser amount. Students learn to articulate the remaining quantity with phrases like 'how many are left?' or 'how many fewer is...than...?'. The term 'difference' is crucial, as it represents the result of a subtraction, and students are taught to 'find the difference' between two numbers. Understanding operations such as 'halving' and the concept of 'equals' is also essential. Advanced terms like 'column addition/subtraction', 'inverse operation', 'decomposition', and 'number bonds' help students grasp more complex mathematical procedures and strategies for efficient calculation, such as using a 'number line' or understanding 'compensation'.