Grade 3 Mental Math: Break Apart Strategy

Worked examples

Real problems from the practice worksheets, solved one step at a time.

1. Example 1

   56 + 33 = ?

   1. Break apart both numbers by place value.
   2. 56 = 50 + 6
   3. 33 = 30 + 3
   4. Add the tens: 50 + 30 = 80
   5. Add the ones: 6 + 3 = 9
   6. Combine: 80 + 9 = 89

   Answer: 89

2. Example 2

   194 + 62 = ?

   1. Line up the numbers by place value.
   2. Add each column from right to left.
   3. Ones: 4 + 2 = 6
   4. Tens: 9 + 6 = 15. Write 5, carry 1.
   5. Hundreds: 1 + 0 + 1 (carried) = 2
   6. The answer is 256.

   Answer: 256

3. Example 3

   53 + 43 = ?

   1. Break apart both numbers by place value.
   2. 53 = 50 + 3
   3. 43 = 40 + 3
   4. Add the tens: 50 + 40 = 90
   5. Add the ones: 3 + 3 = 6
   6. Combine: 90 + 6 = 96

   Answer: 96