What is a Sum?

Introduction

A sum is one of the most foundational topics of mathematics and is used in every day life. A sum is used to add two or more numbers together and is written using the plus sign (+). Sums are used in many everyday situations, including counting money, calculating the cost of goods in a store or working out the area of a shape. Learning how to solve sums is a key skill for the development of mathematical thinking and understanding.

Explaining a Sum

A sum is an amount that is the result of two or more numbers being added together. Its symbol is a ‘+’ and it tells that the two numbers need to be added together and the result of the addition is the sum.

An example would be:

3 + 5 = 8

In this example, 3 and 5 are the two numbers being added together and 8 is the sum.

More Complex Sums

More than two numbers can be added together to get a sum. For example, if there are 4 numbers to add:

7 + 8 + 5 + 9 = 29

In this example, 7, 8, 5 and 9 are the four numbers being added and 29 is the sum.

A sum can also involve decimal numbers and fractions. For example:

2.5 + 3.6 + 0.9 = 7

In this example, 2.5, 3.6 and 0.9 are being added and the result, 7 is the sum. The same process applies for fractions too.

Conclusion

Sums are one of the most basic topics of mathematics and are used in everyday life. A sum is used to add two or more numbers together and is written using the plus sign (+). With addition, even complex equations can be solved by adding all the numbers together, resulting in a sum. Learning how to solve sums is a key skill in the development of mathematical thinking and is a vital part of maths.