Now that you have learned how to read and understand thousands numbers, you're ready to work some addition problems. Don't get rattled by these four-digit numbers-we solve them in the same way we solve any other column addition problem.
Remember that when you use column addition, you line up the place values so that their digits are in the same place value. Then you add the numbers in each place value one at a time, starting with the ones place (ones column).
Let's look at an example addition problem with four-digit numbers:
2857
+ 4136
We can work this problem just like any other addition problem. We start by adding in the ones place: 7 + 6 = 13. Remember that when we have a two-digit sum (answer), we regroup, or carry, the tens digit. So we write 3 in the ones place and carry the 1 to the tens place (tens column).
Now we add the tens place: 1 + 5 + 3 = 9. We write 9 in the tens place.
Next, we add the hundreds place (hundreds column): 8 + 1 = 9. We write 9 in the hundreds place.
Lastly, we add the thousands place (thousands column): 2 + 4 = 6. We write 6 in the thousands place.
Now we have our sum: 6993. But wait-don't forget to add the comma! What is the thousands digit in this number? It's 6. We add the comma after the 6 and have a sum of 6,993.
