Module 2 Counting and understanding numbers
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Can I partition one and two-digit numbers in different ways?

Example review questions

  • Gina had 9p to spend on two items. What could they have cost each?
  • How many different pairs of numbers can you find that total 8?
  • Alex made two jumps on a number line and landed on 7. What could his two jumps have been?
  • 18 + 6 = empty box How could you partition 6 to help answer this question?
    An 18 + 6 bead string
  • Here is one way of making 41p. Can you think of other ways?
    Two 20p coins and one 1p coin
  • Fill in the empty boxes: 87 = empty box + 7;
    87 = empty box + 17; 87 = empty box + 27; 87 = empty box + 37
  • This bead string shows one way of partitioning 54 into some tens and ones. What other ways can you think of?
    An 40 + 14 bead string

Teaching guidance

This teaching guidance document suggests some of the key vocabulary, models, images and practical equipment that children should experience and be able to use. It also includes some teaching tips to provide a few starting points for ways of supporting children with this area of mathematics.

PDF file Can I partition one and two-digit numbers in different ways? - teaching guidance | 103KB new window

Consolidation and practice

This resource is to support children in guided or independent work.

PDF file Partitioning and recombining models and images chart | 314KB new window

Opportunities to use and apply

Possible contexts include:

  • Solving problems or puzzles, e.g. how many different dominoes are there with a total of 9 spots? Do you think there are more or less dominoes with a total of 7 spots?
  • Write as many ways as you can of adding two numbers to make the number 30.
  • Calculations involving partitioning single-digit numbers to cross a tens boundary, e.g.
    27 + 7 = 27 + 3 + 4 = 34 and
    32 − 6 = 32 − 2 − 4 = 26
    A number line showing 27, 30 and 34
  • Finding missing numbers in calculations,
    e.g. 67 = 30 + 30 + empty box + 2.
  • Money, e.g. how many different ways can you find to make 32p?

Confirming learning

Ask probing questions such as:

  • Partition 9 in as many ways as you can. How do you know you have found them all?
  • How many different ways can you partition 46 into tens and ones? Write the number sentences to match the different ways.
  • How can partitioning the one-digit number help you calculate 26 + 7 or 45 + 6?
  • Fill in the missing numbers in these addition calculations:
    67 = empty box + 7; 30 + 19 = empty box;
    48 = empty box + 28; 50 + empty box = 76.
  • What numbers are missing from these subtractions?
    15 − empty box = 10; 23 − empty box = 10;
    25 − 15 = empty box; 31 = 51 − empty box.
  • Explain how you would partition 6 to answer 44 − 6 = empty box