Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division

As the learning session for numbers is completed, the next session starts with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Understanding these calculations is the basics of learning mathematics. It is quite challenging to make kids’ understand the concepts of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division followed by order of operations, simplification and so on. In that case providing fun examples related to kids can be helpful. Let’s give it a try.

Addition: Addition denoted by the plus sign, “+”, is a mathematical operation that combines two or more collection forming larger collections.

For example: It is Tina’s birthday and she has received many beautiful dresses for girls – one from Annie aunty, another from grandpa and another one from her mother. Now adding all three we get, 1+1+1 = 3 dresses for girls. This mathematical operation is addition.

Subtraction: Subtraction denoted by the minus sign, “-”, is a mathematical operation that is inverse of addition. In this operation, a part is taken away from a collection and thus forming a smaller collection.

For example: Father brought 50 return gifts for kids on Tina’s birthday. Only 45 of her friends came for the birthday party. Now after subtracting the two, we can find, 50-45 = 5 return gifts for kids remaining. This mathematical operation is subtraction.

Multiplication: Multiplication denoted by the sign “x” is a mathematical operation that scales one number by another.

For example: Mother is planning to organize a fancy dress costumes competition on next Sunday. There are 5 groups of two members and therefore each group requires two costumes. Now by multiplying, we get 5 X 2 = 10 fancy dress costumes. This mathematical operation is multiplication.

Division: Division denoted by the sign “/” is a mathematical operation that includes a dividend, quotient, divisor and remainder.

For example: Tina has 5 best friends and she has 20 chocolates. She wanted to distribute the chocolates among them. Now diving the numbers we get, 20/5 = 4. Each of her friends will get 4 chocolates. This mathematical operation is division.

These are the basic operations of mathematics that form the first steps in learning mathematics for kids.