The Plus Sign and the Equal Sign: How to Read an Addition Sentence

Signs show up all around you. Signs carry meaning in many places. A red light means stop. An arrow means go this way. The plus sign and the equal sign are signs too. They tell your brain what to do. Reading math sentences the right way keeps you from mixing up problems later. Watch for signs today.

Get your eyes and your fingers ready. Math has its own writing. The plus sign looks like a little cross. It means join these together. The equal sign is two flat lines. It means is the same amount as. These two signs help you read every addition sentence you will meet.

So read 3 plus 2 equals 5 this way. Three joined with two is the same amount as five. Read the sentence from left to right. Do this just like you read a story. When you can read the signs, you can understand a problem. You will not need someone to explain it out loud.

Now try reading these aloud. Say 2 plus 6 equals 8. Say 5 plus 1 equals 6. Say the words plus and equals, not just the numbers. Reading out loud slows you down. Then you notice what the problem really asks. Mistakes often hide there. When you spot a sign, tell someone what you noticed and how you knew.