How to explain math fact families to my first grader?

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education.com asks:

"I feel so stupid. I'm 27 and can't even help my first grader with his math homework. I don't remember learning fact families. Can anyone help with an easy explanation for him and me? lol"

Asked by Caroline in commenting on the activity, "Find the Math Fact Family":
http://www.education.com/activity/article/Fact_...

In Topics: Helping my child with school work and home work, Helping my child with math

> 60 days ago

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Expert

Allyn Anderson

Apr 10, 2010

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What the Expert Says:

Here's a short definition for you. A "Fact Family is a collection of related addition
and subtraction facts, or multiplication and division facts, made from the same numbers. For 7, 8, and 15, the addition/subtraction fact family consists of 7 + 8 = 15, 8 + 7 = 15, 15 - 8 = 7, 15 - 7 = 8.

For 9, 6, and 54, the multiplication/division fact family consists of 6 * 9 = 54, 9 * 6 = 54, 54/9 = 6, 54/6 = 9."

Below is a web site that might give you additional information.

Resources:

http://www.tutorvista.com/topic/math-fact-family-definition

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Additional Answers (2)

alfletcher writes:

I teach them about the "house". They are a family and each equation has it's own room. Two on the downstairs, two upstairs. The roof of the house has the three numbers in each point (triangle rooftop, a number in each angle). The equations each have their own room
for instance 5,3,8 go in the triangle/roof.
Put a + sign in the two bottom rooms and a - sign in the two top rooms to get them started.
Then, make your triangle; 5+3=8,3+5=8;
Big brother number goes first in subtraction so 8 will start both minus equations.
I hope this helps!!!!

> 60 days ago

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tbftgog writes:

Fact families are the names for each number. You do it for 10, then 9, 8,7, etc.

Example: Names for ten or the ten family.
Since 10 + 0= 10 Then 0 + 10 += 10
Since 9 + 1 + 10 Then 1 + 9 = 10
8 + 2 =10, 2 + 8 = etc....

Names for nine (nine family).
Since 9 + 0 = 9 then 0 + 9 = 9, 8 + 1= 9, 1 + 8 =9, etc...

Having the child write these daily and using flash cards with the "fact families",
helps the child eventually memorize and know the answer just by seeing the numbers together. 8 + 2 = 10 2 + 8= 10, 7 + 3 =10 3 + 7 = 10, etc

Hope this is of help to you.
Homeschooling mother of 6

> 60 days ago

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