What is a number?

Hello, and welcome to Myriora Maths! Here's a number: five. But what does five actually mean? Let's find out!

Why do we need numbers? Imagine you're having a party, and you need one cup for each friend. You could carry all your friends to the cupboard! Or, you could count them, and remember just one number.

Counting means matching. We touch each thing once, and say one number word for it. One, two, three, four, five. Don't skip any, and don't count any twice!

Here's the clever bit. The last number we say tells us how many there are altogether. We said five last, so there are five apples.

Does it matter where we start? Let's count the same apples from the other end. One, two, three, four, five. Still five! Wherever you start, if you touch each one once, you get the same number.

And five means five of anything. Five apples, five stars, five dots. Big or small, close together or spread out, it's still five.

Let's count one together. How many balloons are there? Point at each one, and count out loud!

One, two, three, four, five, six. Six balloons! Well done if you said six!

Here's a question that catches lots of people. How many apples are here? Some people count the middle apple twice, and say six. But touch each apple only once, and you get five.

Your turn! How many stars are there? Pick the right card. You've got fifteen seconds, or pause the video. Go!

Time's up! One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. There are seven stars.

Quick review. Count each thing once, and only once. The last number you say is how many there are. And five means five of anything. See you next time!