In previous lessons students have found sums and differences of decimals using a variety of strategies. They used place value reasoning, with words or equations, and saw that the standard addition and subtraction algorithms also work just like they did for whole numbers as long as the same place values in the two numbers are added or subtracted. In this lesson, students add and subtract decimals with no method suggested. Students can use their favorite method or they can think strategically about the given numbers and adapt their strategy. The sums and differences encourage a variety of approaches such as adding on or adding or subtracting by place value.

The lesson also includes an optional activity where students find differences of more complex numbers and think strategically about which method to use. Whether they choose to use the standard algorithm or a different method using place value understanding, these problems help build fluency working with decimals.