01/09/2026
🧠 Word of the Week: Sum
This week’s word is sum – a word children will hear throughout primary school when working with addition.
The sum is the total we get when we add two or more numbers together. ➕
It’s also a word that is often used incorrectly! In maths, sum specifically refers to addition – it doesn’t just mean a calculation. So, technically, a subtraction or multiplication calculation isn’t a “sum”! 🤯
Understanding mathematical vocabulary like this is really important, particularly when children begin to tackle word problems and reasoning questions where they need to work out exactly what they are being asked to do.
⭐ Have a go at the challenge on the final slide:
The sum of three different numbers is 20. How many different answers can you find?
Comment with one of your answers below! 👇
Each week I share a Word of the Week to help children (and parents!) feel more confident with the language of maths 🩷