🔢 MathLevel 1Lesson 13
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Doubles and Near Doubles

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Recall all doubles facts from 1+1 to 6+6
  • 2Recognize when an addition fact is a near double
  • 3Use the doubles-plus-one strategy to solve near doubles quickly
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Mini Lesson

Some addition facts are so useful that we memorize them! Doubles are when both numbers are the same — and they open the door to solving near doubles super fast.

What is a double?

  • A double adds the same number twice: 4 + 4 = 8.
  • Think of it as two equal groups: two hands of four fingers each.
  • Doubles always give an even answer.

Doubles to know by heart (1+1 to 6+6)

  • 1+1=2 · 2+2=4 · 3+3=6
  • 4+4=8 · 5+5=10 · 6+6=12

What is a near double?

  • A near double has two numbers that are almost the same — they differ by 1.
  • Examples: 4+5, 3+4, 6+7.

The doubles-plus-one strategy

  • Find the double hiding inside the near double, then add 1.
  • Example: 4 + 5 → think 4+4=8, then +1 = 9.
  • Example: 3 + 4 → think 3+3=6, then +1 = 7.
Doubles facts table from 1 plus 1 to 6 plus 6Six colored rows showing the doubles facts: 1+1=2, 2+2=4, 3+3=6, 4+4=8, 5+5=10, 6+6=12. Each row has a different color.Doubles to Know by Heart1 + 1=22 + 2=43 + 3=64 + 4=85 + 5=106 + 6 = 12
The six doubles facts from 1+1 to 6+6, each in its own color for easy memorization.
Near doubles strategy applied to 4 plus 5 and 3 plus 4Two worked examples showing the doubles-plus-one strategy. First: 4+5, hide the 5 as 4+1, so 4+4=8 then plus 1 equals 9. Second: 3+4, hide the 4 as 3+1, so 3+3=6 then plus 1 equals 7.Doubles + 1 StrategyExample: 4 + 5 = ?Step 1: Spot the double hiding inside.5 is just 4 + 1, so 4 + 5 = 4 + 4 + 1Step 2: Use the double, then add 1.8 + 1 = 9 ✅Example: 3 + 4 = ?Step 1: Spot the double inside.4 is just 3 + 1, so 3 + 4 = 3 + 3 + 1Step 2: Use the double, then add 1.6 + 1 = 7 ✅
The doubles-plus-one strategy applied to 4+5 and 3+4 — find the hidden double, then add 1.
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Ask yourself: "Is one number one more than the other? Then use doubles plus one!"

Vocabulary
Double
An addition fact where both numbers are the samee.g. 4 + 4 = 8
Near double
An addition fact where the two numbers differ by 1e.g. 4 + 5, 3 + 4
Doubles + 1
A strategy: use the double hiding inside, then add 1e.g. 4 + 5 = (4+4) + 1 = 9
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