Understand the idea.
Repeat the group size
Repeated addition writes the same group size again for every equal group. Four groups of three become . There are four numbers being added because there are four groups, and each number counts the objects in one group.
Check that groups match
Check the groups before repeating a number. Bags with two, two and five marbles can be added, but they do not all have two. Draw or point to each group as you write its number, so no group is missed or counted twice.
See the method in action.
Write a story as addition
There are 3 boxes with 5 toy cars in each. Find the total.
Worked solution
- 1
Write one five for each box.
There are three boxes, each containing five toy cars.
- 2
Join the first two boxes.
Two equal groups contribute ten cars.
- 3
Add the third box.
All three groups are included, so there are fifteen toy cars.
15 toy cars.
Read an addition
Make an equal-groups story for 2 + 2 + 2 + 2.
Worked solution
- 1
Count the equal parts in the addition.
Four twos describe four groups with two objects in each.
- 2
Give each group a meaning.
Choose four pairs of mittens: each pair supplies one of the twos.
- 3
Count all four pairs.
The four equal groups contain eight mittens altogether.
4 groups of 2 make 8 mittens.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Write repeated addition for 3 groups of 2.
Show answer & reasoning
2 + 2 + 2 = 6
Three groups need three copies of two. Write , with each two matching one group.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Write repeated addition for 4 groups of 2.
- Write repeated addition for 2 groups of 6.
- Find .
- How many equal groups are shown by ?
- A caterpillar has 3 body parts with 2 spots on each. Write an addition and total.
- Is an addition of three equal groups? Explain.
Read the worked solutions
- Write repeated addition for 4 groups of 2.
Write one 2 for each of the four groups.
- Write repeated addition for 2 groups of 6.
There are two equal addends.
- Find .
Count .
20 - How many equal groups are shown by ?
There are three addends, each counting one group.
3 groups. - A caterpillar has 3 body parts with 2 spots on each. Write an addition and total.
Count one group of two spots per body part.
spots. - Is an addition of three equal groups? Explain.
The addends must be equal to describe equal-sized groups.
No. The last group has 2 instead of 4.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum Mathematics
Equal groups; arrays; repeated addition; sharing/grouping; twos facts; doubling and halving.
Official curriculum source ↗