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Addition and Subtraction by Counting

© Copyright 2000, Jim Loy

56+7 is 63. You and I both know that. But, do you ever find yourself starting with the 56 and counting seven more, like this?:

56 + 7 :::.=63

Maybe you do it only when you subtract (63-7 this time):

63 - 7 :::.=56

Of course, that slows you down. You knew that. The only advice, that I can think of, is, "Don't do it. It's a bad habit." Of course, addition and subtraction really are forms of counting. But you don't have to demonstrate that fact every time you add or subtract.

I've found myself doing this, sometimes. Like, if I add 37 and 4, I may catch myself going: "37 ... 38, 39, 40, 41." I know that 37+4 is 41. But, without thinking, I sometimes count from 37 to 41. It's frustrating.


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