Doubles, Near Doubles & Easier Facts | 1st Grade Math

Grade 1 Math  ›  Addition & Subtraction  ›  Lesson 11

Grade 1 Math - Addition and Subtraction

Doubles, Near Doubles and Easier Facts

Learn doubles facts and use near doubles to solve addition problems within 20. Build from known facts such as 6 + 6 to solve nearby facts such as 6 + 7.

This first grade addition lesson develops doubles, doubles plus 1, doubles minus 1, and easier known sums so students can choose efficient strategies and strengthen addition fact fluency.

Doubles facts Near doubles Doubles plus 1 Doubles minus 1 Grade 1 addition

🎯 What You Will Learn

Recognize doubles
Use facts such as 6 + 6 = 12 and 8 + 8 = 16.

Use near doubles
When addends differ by 1, start from a nearby doubles fact.

Add or subtract 1
Use doubles plus 1 or doubles minus 1 to find a nearby sum.

Create an easier known sum
Turn a new fact into a fact you already know.

For parents & teachers — standards alignment: This lesson directly develops the “equivalent but easier or known sums” strategy in CCSS 1.OA.C.6. The standard gives the example of solving 6 + 7 by using the known double 6 + 6 + 1. The lesson also supports CCSS 1.OA.B.3 by using properties of operations as strategies without requiring students to use formal property names.

🧠 Key Vocabulary

doubles fact — an addition fact with the same addend twice, such as 6 + 6.

near doubles — an addition fact whose addends differ by 1, such as 6 + 7.

doubles plus 1 — use a double and add one more.

doubles minus 1 — use a double and subtract one.

known fact — an addition fact you already know or can recall quickly.

equivalent sum — a different addition expression with the same value.

👯 What Is a Doubles Fact?

A doubles fact has the same number added to itself. For example, 5 + 5 = 10. Learning doubles gives you a collection of useful facts that can help with other additions.

✨ What Is a Near Double?

A near-doubles fact has two addends that differ by exactly 1. For example, 6 + 7 is close to the known double 6 + 6. Since 7 is one more than 6: 6 + 7 = 6 + 6 + 1 = 13.

6

7

Two useful viewpoints: For 7 + 8, you can use 7 + 7 and add 1, or use 8 + 8 and subtract 1. Both ideas lead to the same sum.

🛠️ Three Useful Moves

👯 Know the double

Start with a fact such as 7 + 7 = 14.

➕1 Doubles plus 1

For 7 + 8, use 7 + 7 = 14, then add 1.

➖1 Doubles minus 1

For 8 + 7, use 8 + 8 = 16, then subtract 1.

Scope note: This lesson builds strategy and number relationships. The later MathLattice fluency lesson will focus specifically on fluent recall of addition and subtraction facts within 10.

Common mistake: When you use a near double, you are changing one addend by exactly 1. For example, 7 + 8 becomes 7 + 7 + 1 — not 7 + 7 + 8.

🌟 25 Worked Examples

✏️ Try each problem first. Then tap “Show solution” to compare your reasoning.

1A doubles fact

Find 3 + 3.

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The two addends are the same, so this is a doubles fact. Three plus three is six. Answer: 3 + 3 = 6.

2Double 4

Find 4 + 4.

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Both groups have 4 counters. Double 4 is 8. Answer: 4 + 4 = 8.

3Double 5

Find 5 + 5.

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Five and five make ten. Answer: 5 + 5 = 10.

4Double 6

Find 6 + 6.

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Two groups of 6 make 12. Answer: 6 + 6 = 12.

5Double 7

Find 7 + 7.

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Two equal groups of 7 make 14. Answer: 7 + 7 = 14.

6Double 8

Find 8 + 8.

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Use the known doubles pattern: 8 + 8 = 16. Answer: 16.

7Double 9

Find 9 + 9.

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Double 9 is 18. Answer: 9 + 9 = 18.

8Double 10

Find 10 + 10.

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Ten plus ten is twenty. Answer: 10 + 10 = 20.

9Near double: one more

Find 4 + 5.

4

5

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Use 4 + 4 = 8. The second addend has one extra, so add 1 more: 8 + 1 = 9. Answer: 4 + 5 = 9.

10Near double: 5 + 6

Find 5 + 6.

5

6

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Use the double 5 + 5 = 10. One addend is 1 more, so 10 + 1 = 11. Answer: 5 + 6 = 11.

11Near double: 6 + 7

Find 6 + 7.

6

7

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Use 6 + 6 = 12, then add 1 more. Answer: 6 + 7 = 13.

12Near double: 7 + 8

Find 7 + 8.

7

8

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Use 7 + 7 = 14. One extra makes 15. Answer: 7 + 8 = 15.

13Near double: 8 + 9

Find 8 + 9.

8

9

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Use 8 + 8 = 16. Add the one extra counter: 16 + 1 = 17. Answer: 8 + 9 = 17.

14Near double with larger addend first

Find 7 + 6.

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Switch the order to think 6 + 7. Use 6 + 6 = 12, then add 1. Answer: 7 + 6 = 13.

15Near double using the larger double

Find 5 + 4.

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You can use 5 + 5 = 10 and subtract 1 from that known sum because one addend is 4 instead of 5. Answer: 5 + 4 = 9.

16Doubles plus 1

Use 6 + 6 = 12 to find 6 + 7.

6 + 6 = 12 → 6 + 7 = ?

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The near-double fact has one more than the double. So 12 + 1 = 13. Answer: 6 + 7 = 13.

17Doubles minus 1

Use 8 + 8 = 16 to find 8 + 7.

8 + 8 = 16 → 8 + 7 = ?

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The near-double fact has one less than 8 + 8. So 16 − 1 = 15. Answer: 8 + 7 = 15.

18Choose a helpful double

Name a doubles fact that can help you solve 9 + 8.

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The facts 8 + 8 = 16 or 9 + 9 = 18 can both help. Using 8 + 8, add 1 to get 17. Answer: for example, 8 + 8 = 16; therefore 9 + 8 = 17.

19Spot the near double

Is 6 + 7 a doubles fact, a near-doubles fact, or neither?

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The addends differ by 1, so it is a near-doubles fact. Answer: near doubles.

20Not a near double

Is 4 + 7 a near-doubles fact?

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No. The addends differ by 3, not by 1. Another strategy such as making 10 may be more useful. Answer: no.

21Use an easier known sum

Find 6 + 7 using an equivalent easier sum.

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Use the known double 6 + 6 = 12, then add 1: 6 + 7 = 6 + 6 + 1 = 13. Answer: 13.

22Another easier known sum

Find 8 + 7 using a known double.

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Use 7 + 7 = 14 and add 1, or use 8 + 8 = 16 and subtract 1. Either way, 8 + 7 = 15.

23Explain why the strategy works

Why does knowing 5 + 5 help with 5 + 6?

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The fact 5 + 6 has the same 5 + 5, plus one extra. So 5 + 6 is one more than 10. Answer: 11.

24Spot the mistake

A student says 7 + 8 = 7 + 7 + 8. What is wrong?

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If we rewrite 8 as 7 + 1, the 8 must be replaced by those two parts. We cannot keep the whole 8 and also add another 7. So 7 + 8 = 7 + (7 + 1) = 7 + 7 + 1 = 15. Correct answer: 15.

25Challenge: choose between two doubles

Find 9 + 10 using a near-doubles strategy.

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Use 9 + 9 = 18 and add 1, or use 10 + 10 = 20 and subtract 1. Answer: 9 + 10 = 19.

🎮 Independent Practice — 30 Problems

1. Find the sum: 1 + 1.
2. Find the sum: 2 + 2.
3. Find the sum: 3 + 3.
4. Find the sum: 4 + 4.
5. Find the sum: 5 + 5.
6. Find the sum: 6 + 6.
7. Find the sum: 7 + 7.
8. Find the sum: 8 + 8.
9. Find the sum: 9 + 9.
10. Find the sum: 10 + 10.
11. Use a near-doubles strategy: 2 + 3.
12. Use a near-doubles strategy: 3 + 4.
13. Use a near-doubles strategy: 4 + 5.
14. Use a near-doubles strategy: 5 + 6.
15. Use a near-doubles strategy: 6 + 7.
16. Use a near-doubles strategy: 7 + 8.
17. Use a near-doubles strategy: 8 + 9.
18. Use a near-doubles strategy: 9 + 10.
19. Give one known double that can help with 5 + 4.
20. Give one known double that can help with 7 + 6.
21. Complete: 6 + 7 = 6 + 6 + □.
22. Complete: 8 + 9 = 8 + 8 + □.
23. Complete: 5 + 4 = 5 + 5 − □.
24. Complete: 9 + 8 = 9 + 9 − □.
25. True or false: 7 + 8 is a near-doubles fact.
26. True or false: 4 + 6 is a near-doubles fact.
27. Use 5 + 5 = 10 to explain 5 + 6.
28. Use 8 + 8 = 16 to explain 8 + 7.
29. Which is a better doubles connection for 6 + 7: 6 + 6 or 4 + 4?
30. Challenge: Find 10 + 9 using a near-doubles strategy.

🏆 Lesson Test — 15 Questions

1. A doubles fact has two 2s. What is the sum?
2. What is double 6?
3. Two equal groups of 9 are combined. What total do they make?
4. Use a near-doubles strategy to find 3 + 4.
5. Use a near-doubles strategy to find 6 + 5.
6. Use a near-doubles strategy to find 8 + 7.
7. Use a near-doubles strategy to find 10 + 9.
8. Complete: 7 + 8 = 7 + 7 + □.
9. Complete: 8 + 7 = 8 + 8 − □.
10. Give one doubles fact that can help solve 4 + 5.
11. True or false: 6 + 7 is a near-doubles fact.
12. Fix the mistake: 5 + 6 = 5 + 5 + 6.
13. Explain why 9 + 8 is one less than 9 + 9.
14. Which strategy from this lesson is especially helpful when the two addends differ by 1?
15. Challenge: Use a known double to find 7 + 8 and show the easier fact.

🔐 Complete Answer Key

Answer-key note: A near-doubles fact can sometimes be connected to either the smaller double or the larger double. The answer key gives one clear method, but another correct doubles connection is also acceptable.

🔑 Show practice answer key 🙈 Hide practice answer key

Practice Answers

1. 2

2. 4

3. 6

4. 8

5. 10

6. 12

7. 14

8. 16

9. 18

10. 20

11. 2 + 3 = 2 + 2 + 1 = 5

12. 3 + 4 = 3 + 3 + 1 = 7

13. 4 + 5 = 4 + 4 + 1 = 9

14. 5 + 6 = 5 + 5 + 1 = 11

15. 6 + 7 = 6 + 6 + 1 = 13

16. 7 + 8 = 7 + 7 + 1 = 15

17. 8 + 9 = 8 + 8 + 1 = 17

18. 9 + 10 = 9 + 9 + 1 = 19

19. Possible answer: 5 + 5 = 10, then subtract 1. (4 + 4 = 8, then add 1, also works.)

20. Possible answer: 6 + 6 = 12, then add 1. (7 + 7 = 14, then subtract 1, also works.)

21. 1

22. 1

23. 1

24. 1

25. True

26. False — the addends differ by 2.

27. 5 + 6 is one more than 5 + 5, so 10 + 1 = 11.

28. 8 + 7 is one less than 8 + 8, so 16 − 1 = 15.

29. 6 + 6

30. 10 + 9 = 10 + 10 − 1 = 19

🏅 Show test answer key 🙈 Hide test answer key

Test Answers

1. 4

2. 12

3. 18

4. 3 + 4 = 3 + 3 + 1 = 7

5. 6 + 5 = 5 + 5 + 1 = 11

6. 8 + 7 = 8 + 8 − 1 = 15

7. 10 + 9 = 10 + 10 − 1 = 19

8. 1

9. 1

10. Possible answer: 4 + 4 = 8, then add 1. (5 + 5 = 10, then subtract 1, also works.)

11. True

12. 5 + 6 = 5 + 5 + 1 = 11.

13. Because 8 is one less than 9, 9 + 8 is one less than 9 + 9.

14. Near doubles.

15. For example: 7 + 7 = 14, so 7 + 8 = 14 + 1 = 15.

💡 Common Mistakes to Watch For

Calling every close-looking fact a near double
In this lesson, the addends must differ by exactly 1.

Adding the extra amount twice
For 6 + 7, use 6 + 6 + 1, not 6 + 6 + 7.

Forgetting doubles minus 1
A larger double can also help: 8 + 7 = 8 + 8 − 1.

Using doubles when another strategy is easier
Doubles are a tool, not a rule. Choose a strategy that fits the numbers.

For parents & teachers — Texas connection: TEKS 1.3(D) expects students to apply basic fact strategies to add and subtract within 20. Texas-reviewed Grade 1 instructional materials aligned to this expectation include doubles, near doubles, and doubles plus 1 as efficient addition strategies. This lesson develops that pathway while continuing to emphasize flexible strategy choice.

🔗 Related Lessons

Lesson 9 — Addition Strategies Within 20
Review counting on and making 10 before adding another useful strategy. Lesson 8 — Number Bonds & Ways to Make 10
Review part-whole thinking and known combinations.

🖨️ Printable Companion

A free Doubles & Near Doubles Practice Pack will be connected here as the MathLattice printable library grows. It will include doubles fact cards, near-doubles models, doubles plus 1, doubles minus 1, error analysis, mixed practice, and an answer key.

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