2
Doubles are even
Discover Mathematics P2: Term 2, Lessons 71–80
GoalDouble a number and see that every double is even.
New words
double · a number added to itselfdoubles fact · an addition with two equal numbers, like 6 + 6sum · the answer to an addition
Explanation
To double a number, add it to itself. The double of 6 is 6 + 6 = 12. Two equal groups can always be paired up, one from each group, so a double has nothing left over. That means every double is an even number. Doubles of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 are 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10. Doubles of 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are 12, 14, 16, 18 and 20. You can use doubles for harder sums: 7 + 8 is one more than 7 + 7, so 7 + 8 = 15.
| Number | Double | Even or odd? |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 3 + 3 = 6 | even |
| 5 | 5 + 5 = 10 | even |
| 8 | 8 + 8 = 16 | even |
Worked examples
Double 6: 6 + 6 = 12. Two groups of 6, and 12 is even.
Double 9: 9 + 9 = 18. The double of an odd number is even too.
Use a double: 7 + 8 is one more than 7 + 7. 7 + 7 = 14, so 7 + 8 = 15.
Class activity
Mirror doubles. Put a small mirror next to 5 buttons. How many buttons do you see now? Write the doubles sentence. Try with 3, 4 and 6 buttons. Are all the totals even?
Practice
1
What is the double of 7?
7 + 7 = 14.
2
What is the double of 12?
12 + 12 = 24.
3
Two baskets each hold 13 oranges. How many oranges in all? Is the number even or odd?
13 + 13 = 26. It is even.
4
Which number is not a double: 14, 15 or 16?
15. It is odd, and 7 + 7 = 14 and 8 + 8 = 16.
5
Use a double to find 6 + 7.
6 + 6 = 12, and one more is 13.