A double is two copies of the same amount. Halving is the opposite: share into two equal groups. Doubles also help with near doubles. For 6 + 7, double 6 is 12 and 7 is one more than 6, so the answer is one more: 13.
Explore this idea with maths tools
Maths you can move
Build 8 + 5
Tap two gold counters to fill the ten-frame.
8 in the frame + 5 waiting. The total stays the same.
Words to know
- double
- two groups of the same amount
- half
- one of two equal parts
- near double
- two numbers next to each other, like 6 and 7
Worked examples
Double 6
- 1.Make two groups of six.
- 2.6 + 6 = 12.
= 12
Half of 14
- 1.Share 14 into two equal groups.
- 2.Double 7 is 14, so half of 14 is 7.
= 7
6 + 7
- 1.7 is one more than 6. Double 6 is 12.
- 2.One more: 12 + 1 = 13.
= 13
For parents
Method: Two equal groups
What to say: Are the two groups equal? Which double can help you here?
Common mistakes:
- Treats 'double' as 'one more'.
- Counts on the second group but counts the starting number again, landing one short.
- Halves when asked to double.
- Doubles when asked to find half.
- Splits into two parts that are not equal and gives the larger part.
- For a near double, uses the double of the smaller number and forgets the extra one.
- For a near double, uses the double of the larger number and forgets to take one off.