NCERT Revision Notes for Class 1 Maths Chapter 4: Making 10 – Free PDF Download

Chapter 4 of Class 1 Joyful Mathematics, Making 10, focuses on one of the most important number facts a Class 1 child learns: all the different pairs of numbers that add up to 10. Knowing these pairs instantly, without counting, makes every later addition and subtraction sum faster and easier.

Key Concepts

Number bonds to 10: pairs of numbers that add together to make exactly 10, such as 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, and 5 and 5.

Ten frames: a simple grid of 10 boxes (2 rows of 5) used to show how many more counters are needed to fill up to 10.

Complements of 10: another name for the two numbers that together make 10; knowing the complement of a number means instantly knowing what to add to reach 10.

Fast recall: the goal of this chapter is for children to know pairs that make 10 by heart, without having to count on fingers each time.

Using 10 as a helper: once a child knows sums that make 10, they can use this to solve trickier sums later, such as 9 + 4 by first making 9 into 10.

Worked Examples

Example 1

How many more do we need to add to 6 to make 10? Since 6 + 4 = 10, the answer is 4.

Example 2

A ten frame has 7 counters filled in. How many empty boxes are left? Since the frame has 10 boxes and 7 are filled, 10 − 7 = 3 boxes are empty.

Example 3

List all the pairs of numbers that make 10. They are: 0 and 10, 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, and 5 and 5.

Quick Recap

• There are six different pairs of whole numbers (including 0 and 10) that add up to 10.
• Ten frames are a helpful picture for seeing how many more are needed to reach 10.
• Knowing pairs that make 10 instantly speeds up later addition and subtraction.
• 5 and 5 is the only pair where both numbers are the same.
• Practising these pairs daily helps build fast mental maths recall.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting that 0 and 10 is also a valid pair that makes 10.
• Miscounting the empty boxes in a ten frame instead of subtracting from 10 directly.
• Mixing up a pair that makes 10 with a pair that makes a different total, like 9.
• Relying only on finger counting instead of gradually memorising the pairs.
• Writing the pair in the wrong order and assuming it changes the answer — 3 and 7 is the same fact as 7 and 3.

Home Practice Tips

• Draw a 10-box ten frame on paper and practise filling it with different numbers of buttons or coins.
• Play a quick game: say a number from 0 to 10, and ask the child to say the number that pairs with it to make 10.
• Use two hands (10 fingers) to physically show different pairs that make 10.
• Make flashcards with the six pairs and practise them for a few minutes daily.
• Connect this to shopping: if a toy costs 10 rupees and you have 6 rupees, ask how many more rupees are needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is “making 10” such an important chapter in Class 1?
Knowing pairs that make 10 by heart is one of the most useful early number facts, since it makes later addition, subtraction, and place value work much faster and easier.

Q2. How many pairs of numbers make 10?
There are six pairs: 0 and 10, 1 and 9, 2 and 8, 3 and 7, 4 and 6, and 5 and 5.

Q3. What is a ten frame and why is it used?
A ten frame is a grid of 10 boxes arranged in two rows of five, used to help children see numbers up to 10 visually and understand how many more are needed to reach 10.

Q4. How can I test if my child has memorised the pairs that make 10?
Say one number between 0 and 10 and ask the child to instantly say the matching number, without counting on fingers.

Q5. How does this chapter help with later maths topics?
Once pairs that make 10 are known instantly, children can use this fact to solve bigger addition sums by “making 10 first,” which is a key mental maths strategy used throughout primary school.

Full walkthrough: Chapter 4 Solutions · Extra Questions.

Written by Satish

NCERTBooks.org is an independent educational resource run by a small team focused on making official NCERT textbooks easy to find, read, and download for students, parents, and teachers across India. We are not affiliated with NCERT or the Ministry of Education -- we organise publicly available NCERT content by class and subject, verify links against official sources, and build tools (like our in-browser reader) that make studying more convenient. Every guide we publish is written and reviewed by our team based on the actual NCERT curriculum and syllabus.