We usually use these two phrases: “give” and “take”. In mathematics, the concept of the basic operations “addition” and “subtraction” belong to the “Give and Take” concept. Suppose you have two chocolates, and your brother gives you one chocolate. Now, how many chocolates do you have? Three, right? Here, the concept of addition is utilized to know the total.

And let us say you have four chocolates and your brother takes one chocolate from you. To calculate the number of chocolates you have, you need to apply the concept of subtraction. This article will tell us how to introduce addition and subtraction and how to do them. Continue reading to know more.

Give or Add

Let us examine a situation. You have two pens with you, and your uncle gives you two new pens as a gift. Now, how many pens do you have in total?

When we count all the pens, we can see that there are four pens in total. What are we doing mathematically here? We are adding the number of pens given by uncle to the number of pens already we had. It can be represented as

The \((+)\) symbol represents an addition, finding the sum of two or more numbers or values to get a new number.

Let us consider another example. If you add \(7\) and \(8,\) you get \(15.\)
\(7+8=15\)

The sum of \(7\) and \(8\) can be understood practically. So let’s say that you already have \(7\) candies, and then your mother gives you \(8\) more candies. In total, how many candies do you have in your possession?

If you count your candies one by one, you have total \(15\) candies. Let us take some other examples.

Raj gives \(22\) red roses to Anish, and Rima gives \(16\) white roses to Anish on his birthday. How many Roses Anish has in total?

The number of roses Raj gives \(= 22\)
The number of roses Rima gives \(=16\)

To know the total number of roses Anish has, we need to add \(22\) and \(16.\) So, the number of roses Anish has \(=22+16=38\)

We can add \(22\) & \(16\) in another way by expanding these numbers. We can expand \(22\) as \(20+2\) and \(16\) as \(10+6.\) Now, we will add the tens and ones separately. On adding tens we have, \(20+10=30\) and adding ones we have, \(2+6=8\)

At last, we add these results, that is, \(30+8=38\). Hence, Anish has \(38\) roses in total.

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Take or Subtract

Let us understand this through a simple example. Jyoti and Priya were sisters, and they were making cupcakes. Jyoti prepared \(3\) cupcakes, and Priya prepared \(4.\) Their mother comes and takes \(2\) cupcakes from that. Now, how many cupcakes are there left for their friends?

How will we find this? For that, first, we have to know how many cupcakes they made in total. We already learned to calculate that by addition. 

So, the total number of cupcakes prepared \(3+4=7\)

Now, their mother takes \(2\) cupcakes. 

How many are left now? If we reduce two cupcakes from the total cupcakes, what do we get?

Now, counting those left, we can see that there are only \(5\) cupcakes left. What are we doing mathematically here? We are subtracting the number of cupcakes taken by the mother from the total number of cupcakes made. It is represented as

The term subtraction means to reduce the value of one number from another to get the required difference, and the symbol representing the subtraction is \((-).\) So, the number of cupcakes left \(=7-2=5\) cupcakes

Let us consider another example. There are \(6\) frogs in a pond. \(3\) frogs are taken away and killed by a frog seller. How many frogs are still alive in the pond?

Solution: 

There were \(6\) frogs in the pond. \(3\) of them are taken away.
To find the number of frogs left in the pond, we need to subtract \(3\) from \(6.\)
Subtracting \(3\) from \(6\) we have, \(6-3=3\)
Hence, there are \(3\) frogs alive in the pond.

Addition and Subtraction

Sometimes we need to apply addition and subtraction at a time. Let us see an example. Suppose your mother gives you \(5\) marbles, your father gives you \(10,\) and your brother has taken away \(2\) marble from you. Now count how many marbles you have at present.

The number of marbles your mother gives you \(=5\)
The number of marbles your father gives you \(=10\)
Now, the number of marbles you have, \(10+5=15\)
But, your brother has taken away \(2\) marbles from you. It means you need to apply subtraction here.
\(15-2=13\) Hence, you have \(13\) marbles at present.

Solved Examples: Give and Take

Q.1. A Shopkeeper had 35 candles. Madhu bought 10 candles. How many candles were left for the shopkeeper?
Ans: Given that the number of candles the shopkeeper had \(=35\)
Madhu bought \(10\) candles. That means she has taken \(10\) candles from the shopkeeper. So, to know the number of candles left with the shopkeeper, we need to do the subtraction.
Hence, the number of candles left for the shopkeeper \(=\) Number of candles the shopkeeper had initially \(-\) The number of candles Madhu bought \(=35-10=25.\)

Q.2. Rima gave you 6 cookies, your father gave you 12 cookies, and your sister had taken away 8 cookies from you. Now count how many cookies you have at present.
Ans: Given that the number of cookies Rima gave you \(=6\)
The number of cookies your father gave you \(=12\)
Now, the number of cookies you have, \(12+6=18\)
But your sister has taken away \(8\) cookies from you. It means that you need to apply subtraction here.
So, the numbers of cookies you have at present \(=\) Total number of cookies given to you \(-\) Number of cookies sister was taken \(=18-8=10\) Hence, you have \(10\) cookies at present.

Q.3. Write the appropriate answer for blank space.
Mita has 3 oranges. Her colleague gives 2 more oranges. How many oranges she has at present?

Ans: In the given image, \(2\) more oranges are given to the set of \(3\) oranges. We have to perform addition over here. That is, \(2\) oranges are added with \(3\) oranges. Now count the total number of oranges. 
We get, \(3+2=5\)
Hence, the required answer is \(5.\)

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Q.4. Write the appropriate answer for blank space.

Ans: In the given image, \(3\) lemons are taken away from \(8\) lemons. Here, the subtraction is happening. That is, \(3\) lemons are subtracted from the set of \(8\) lemons. Now, count the total number of lemons left. We get, \(8-3=5\)
Hence, the required answer is \(5.\)

Q.5. Write the answer for the given blank.

Ans: In the given image, \(4\) pumpkins are added with \(2\) pumpkins. Counting the total number of pumpkins, we get, \(4+2=6\)
Hence, the required answer is \(6.\)

Summary

This article has taught us the importance of “give” and “take” in mathematics. We discussed that “give” and “take” represents the mathematical operations of addition and subtraction, respectively. We use these terms to introduce addition and subtraction to children to make them understand most easily. We also solved some problems related to this topic.

Frequently Asked Question (FAQs)

Q.1. What do you mean by give and take in mathematics?
Ans: In mathematics, give means adding something to the existing or performing the addition operation and take means removing something from the existing or performing the subtraction operation. You have two chocolates, and your brother gives you one. How many chocolates do you have in your possession now? Here, the concept of addition has been introduced. What if your brother takes one of the four chocolate bars you own from him? Subtraction is used to calculate the number of chocolates you own now.

Q.2. Why are addition and subtraction essential?
Ans: Addition and subtraction are essential to demonstrate the change in the existing quantity when something is added or removed from it. Addition and Subtraction can be used to represent a variety of problems. It is vital to recognize these situations and represent them symbolically.

Q.3. What is the difference between addition and subtraction?
Ans: Addition is adding something to the existing quantity, and subtraction means removing something from the existing quantity. When you give one pen to your friend who has only one pen, you add one more pen to him. And you have subtracted one pen from your set of pens. The addition is represented by \((+)\) and subtraction is represented by \((-).\)  For example, \(6+2=8\) is an addition. And, when you take away any number from the other number like \(6-2=4\) is subtraction.

Q.4. Can we apply addition and subtraction at a time in a problem sum?
Ans: Yes, we can. Sometimes we need to apply addition and subtraction at a time. 
For example, your mother gives you \(5\) marbles, your father gives you \(10\) marbles, and your brother takes away \(2\) marble from you. Now count how many marbles you have at present. In this case, first, we need to apply addition to know the total number of marbles you have and then subtraction to know what is left.

Q.5. What do you understand about being taken away?
Ans: Generally, we use “taken away” when we perform subtraction. 
For example, if we take away \(2\) from \(7,\) we get the answer \(5.\)That is, \(7-2=5\) 

We hope this detailed article on the concept of give and take in mathematics helped you in your studies. If you have any doubts, queries or suggestions regarding this article, feel to ask us in the comment section and we will be more than happy to assist you. Happy learning!