Addition

Addition is the mathematical operation that combines two or more numbers to produce their sum.

It is helpful to see addition in terms of functions - addition adds one number (a) to another number (b) to make their sum (c).

Thus,

a + b = c.

Its reverse function, or inverse operation, is subtraction, which moves the other way:

c - b = a.

It is possible to add a negative number, but this is the same as subtracting that number:

a + (-b) = a - b.

Methods for addition

For simple addition, it is easy to add by counting steps. If we consider 6 + 4, then we can start at 6, then add 1 four times - 7, 8, 9, 10. Thus, 6 + 4 is 10.

For more complex addition, columnar addition can be carried out.