Number Bonds › Make ten
The Make-Ten Strategy
The mental-math trick that turns 8 + 5 into 10 + 3.
The make-ten strategy turns hard additions like 8 + 5 into easy ones. Take part of the second number to fill up the first number to 10, then add what is left.
Step by step: 8 + 5
- 8 needs 2 more to make 10 (a bond to 10).
- Split 5 into 2 and 3.
- 8 + 2 = 10, then 10 + 3 = 13.
More examples
| Problem | Split to make ten | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 8 + 5 | 8 + 2 + 3 | 10 + 3 = 13 |
| 9 + 4 | 9 + 1 + 3 | 10 + 3 = 13 |
| 7 + 6 | 7 + 3 + 3 | 10 + 3 = 13 |
| 8 + 7 | 8 + 2 + 5 | 10 + 5 = 15 |
| 9 + 6 | 9 + 1 + 5 | 10 + 5 = 15 |
| 6 + 5 | 6 + 4 + 1 | 10 + 1 = 11 |
| 7 + 8 | 7 + 3 + 5 | 10 + 5 = 15 |
| 9 + 9 | 9 + 1 + 8 | 10 + 8 = 18 |
The strategy only works smoothly once the bonds to 10 are automatic, so practise those first.