All the Ways to Make 8 and 9

Step 1: Let's Learn

Read it, or press Listen and follow the words.

Watch the idea first — 54 seconds. Then read on, and try it yourself in the next step.

Bigger numbers split too. 8 has nine different ways.

Let the five help

The top row of a ten-frame is always five. That makes the split easy to see.

How many ways do you think 9 has? Make a guess before you start.

Step 2: Try It Yourself

Change the split and read the two parts.

Change how many are red. Every setting is a different way to make 8.

5 and 3 make 8.

Counters in all

Red counters

The beads change color after five, so five is visible without counting.

How many8

5 and 3 make 8.

Beads

Step 3: In Real Life

Sharing markers

Eight markers for two friends. 4 and 4 is fair. 6 and 2 is not. Knowing all the ways helps you pick.

Step 4: Watch an Example

Watch the five help you.

Watch Ben Split 9

Ben splits 9 quickly by using the top row.

Step 1
He fills the frame with 9 counters. The top row holds five.

Step 5: Your Turn

Practice makes it stick.

In the Garden

Problem 1 of 1

There are 8 flowers. 5 are red. How many are not red?

Every Way to Make 9

Set the counters to 9. Then move the split from 0 all the way to 9.

0 and 9 make 9.

Counters in all

Red counters

Slide the Beads

Build it, then check.

Slide 8 beads across.

Slide the beads.

How many0

Beads

Step 6: Quick Check

Show what you know.

Question 1 of 2

5 and what make 8?

Question 2 of 2

6 and what make 9?

What You Learned

8 and 9 split many ways too.
The top row of five helps you see the split.
Go in order and you will find them all.

For the grown-up

Counting and knowing how many are different skills. A child can recite to twenty and still recount a row of six every time they are asked, because the last number said has not yet become the answer to "how many".

Watch for recounting. If they count a group, are asked how many, and start again from one, the link has not formed yet. It is extremely common at this age and is not a memory problem.

When it happens, count together slowly and then close your hand over the group and ask again. Hiding the objects is what forces the number to stand in for them.

How many pairs there should be — For 8 there are nine pairs, from 0 and 8 up to 8 and 0. One more than the number itself, because zero counts as a part.

The middle pair is the double — 4 and 4 makes 8. Every even number has a middle pair like that. Odd numbers do not, which is what makes them odd.

Let the top row do the work — Put 8 in the frame. The top row fills first. The top row is five. You do not count it. Count what is below. Three. Five and three. Eight. Now slide one down: 4 and 4. That is the double, right in the middle.