Number Bonds to 10

A number bond is a way to see which two numbers add up to make a bigger number. The number 10 has special number bonds: 0+10, 1+9, 2+8, 3+7, 4+6, 5+5, 6+4, 7+3, 8+2, 9+1, 10+0. These pairs are like best friends — they always add to 10. Knowing them makes math much faster.

Think of 10 like a whole cake. You can cut it into two pieces in different ways. If you cut off a slice of 3, the other piece is 7. If you cut off 4, the other piece is 6. Every way you split it, the two pieces add back to 10. Those pairs are the number bonds to 10, and they unlock all kinds of math.

Hold up 10 fingers. Bend 3 of them down. How many are still up? 7. So 3 + 7 = 10. Now hold up all 10 fingers and bend 4. How many up? 6. So 4 + 6 = 10. Do every combo: bend 1 (leaves 9), bend 2 (leaves 8), and so on. You have found every number bond to 10.

Number bonds to 10 are a tool grown-ups use all the time. When you add 8 + 5, the fast trick is to see that 8 needs 2 more to make 10, and 5 has 2 and 3 left, so 8 + 5 = 10 + 3 = 13. Once you know your bonds to 10, big math becomes easier. Practice every day and soon you will know them by heart.