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Next-door Numbers

Age 5 to 7
Challenge Level Yellow star
  • Problem
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Florence chooses a number and then counts on one more:

 

She adds them together and this is what she records:

 


Ethan chooses two different 'next-door' numbers:

 

And then he adds them together and records the addition:

 


Here are the 'next-door' (consecutive) numbers that Alma chooses:

 

She adds her numbers together:

 



Try this for yourself.  Choose two consecutive numbers and add them together.

What is the same about all the answers?
Does this surprise you?
Will this always happen when you add two consecutive numbers together?

Try drawing a picture or making a model to explain your thinking.
Can you convince someome else using your picture/model?

You may be interested in the other problems in our Surprise! Feature.

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The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

NRICH is part of the family of activities in the Millennium Mathematics Project.

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