Skip Counting (Grade 3)
Skip counting means counting forward or backward by a number other than 1. Instead of counting 1, 2, 3, 4..., we skip numbers in a pattern.
In Class 3, students practise skip counting by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 100. Skip counting helps build a strong foundation for multiplication and recognising number patterns.
What is Skip Counting (Grade 3) - Class 3 Maths (Numbers up to 1000)?
Skip counting is counting by adding the same number each time.
- Skip counting by 2: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12...
- Skip counting by 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18...
- Skip counting by 5: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30...
- Skip counting by 10: 10, 20, 30, 40, 50...
Skip counting can also start from any number, not just from 0. For example, skip counting by 3 starting from 100: 100, 103, 106, 109...
Skip Counting (Grade 3) Formula
Next number = Current number + Skip value
Solved Examples
Example 1: Skip Count by 2
Question: Skip count by 2 from 120 to 136.
Think:
- Start at 120, add 2 each time
- 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136
Answer: 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 136
Example 2: Skip Count by 3
Question: Skip count by 3 from 300 to 321.
Think:
- 300, 303, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321
- Each step adds 3
Answer: 300, 303, 306, 309, 312, 315, 318, 321
Example 3: Skip Count by 4
Question: Fill in the blanks: 204, 208, ___, ___, 220.
Think:
- Pattern: adding 4 each time
- 208 + 4 = 212
- 212 + 4 = 216
- 216 + 4 = 220 ✓
Answer: 204, 208, 212, 216, 220
Example 4: Skip Count by 5
Question: Aman counts by 5s starting from 455. Write the next 5 numbers.
Think:
- 455 + 5 = 460
- 460, 465, 470, 475, 480
Answer: 460, 465, 470, 475, 480
Example 5: Skip Count by 10
Question: Skip count by 10 from 730 to 800.
Think:
- 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800
Answer: 730, 740, 750, 760, 770, 780, 790, 800
Example 6: Skip Count by 100
Question: Skip count by 100 from 150 to 750.
Think:
- 150, 250, 350, 450, 550, 650, 750
- Each step adds 100
Answer: 150, 250, 350, 450, 550, 650, 750
Example 7: Skip Counting Backward by 3
Question: Skip count backward by 3 from 330 to 312.
Think:
- 330, 327, 324, 321, 318, 315, 312
- Each step subtracts 3
Answer: 330, 327, 324, 321, 318, 315, 312
Example 8: Word Problem — Seating Rows
Question: In a school assembly, chairs are arranged in groups of 6. The first group starts at chair 1. Which chair numbers start each group? List the first 5.
Think:
- Skip count by 6: 1, 7, 13, 19, 25
- Each new group starts 6 chairs after the previous
Answer: 1, 7, 13, 19, 25
Example 9: Finding the Rule
Question: What is the skip count rule? 415, 420, 425, 430, 435.
Think:
- 420 − 415 = 5
- 425 − 420 = 5
- The rule is: skip count by 5
Answer: The rule is skip counting by 5.
Example 10: Word Problem — Saving Money
Question: Priya saves ₹10 every day. She has ₹350 today. How much will she have after 5 more days?
Think:
- Skip count by 10 from 350: 360, 370, 380, 390, 400
- After 5 days she will have ₹400
Answer: Priya will have ₹400.
Real-World Applications
Where is skip counting used in daily life?
- Counting coins: Counting ₹2 coins (2, 4, 6, 8...), ₹5 coins (5, 10, 15, 20...), or ₹10 notes (10, 20, 30, 40...) is skip counting.
- Telling time: The minute marks on a clock go by 5s: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 minutes.
- Multiplication tables: Skip counting by 3 gives the table of 3 (3, 6, 9, 12...). Skip counting by 7 gives the table of 7.
- Sports: In cricket, overs have 6 balls each. Counting balls: 6, 12, 18, 24...
- Egg trays: Eggs come in trays of 6 or 12. Counting eggs: 6, 12, 18, 24...
Skip counting is a stepping stone from addition to multiplication. It helps build number sense and prepares students for more complex arithmetic.
Key Points to Remember
- Skip counting means adding the same number repeatedly.
- Common skip counts: by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, and 100.
- Skip counting can go forward (adding) or backward (subtracting).
- Skip counting by a number gives the same results as the multiplication table of that number.
- Skip counting can start from any number, not just from 0.
- Look for patterns: skip counting by 5 always ends in 0 or 5; skip counting by 10 changes only the tens digit.
Practice Problems
- Skip count by 3 from 150 to 171.
- Skip count by 4 from 400 to 432.
- Fill in the blanks: 525, 530, ___, ___, 545.
- Skip count backward by 2 from 500 to 486.
- Kavi skip counts by 6 starting from 600. Write the next 6 numbers.
- What is the rule? 810, 800, 790, 780, 770.
- Aditi saves ₹5 each day. Starting from ₹200, how much after 8 days?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is skip counting?
Skip counting is counting by adding the same number each time instead of counting by 1. For example, counting by 3: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15...
Q2. How is skip counting related to multiplication?
Skip counting by a number gives the multiplication table of that number. For example, skip counting by 4 gives 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 — which are 4×1, 4×2, 4×3, 4×4, 4×5.
Q3. Can you skip count backward?
Yes. Backward skip counting means subtracting the same number each time. For example, skip counting backward by 5 from 50: 50, 45, 40, 35, 30.
Q4. Does skip counting always start from 0?
No. Skip counting can start from any number. For example, skip counting by 3 starting from 100: 100, 103, 106, 109...
Q5. What is the pattern when skip counting by 10?
When counting by 10, only the tens digit changes (and the hundreds digit when you cross a hundred). The ones digit stays the same. For example: 240, 250, 260, 270.
Q6. How does skip counting help in daily life?
Skip counting helps when counting coins (₹2, ₹5 coins), calculating totals of equal groups, telling time (counting by 5 on a clock), and quick mental math.
Q7. What is the difference between skip counting and repeated addition?
They give the same result. Skip counting is saying the numbers aloud (3, 6, 9...) while repeated addition writes it as 3 + 3 + 3. Both lead to multiplication.
Q8. How do I find the skip counting rule from a pattern?
Subtract any number from the next number in the sequence. If the difference is the same throughout, that is the skip count value. For example: 14, 21, 28, 35 → difference is 7, so the rule is skip counting by 7.
Related Topics
- Numbers up to 1000
- Multiplication Tables of 3 and 4
- 3-Digit Numbers
- Place Value of 3-Digit Numbers
- Expanded Form of 3-Digit Numbers
- Comparing 3-Digit Numbers
- Ordering 3-Digit Numbers
- Rounding to Nearest 10 and 100
- Estimation (Grade 3)
- Roman Numerals (I to XX)
- Introduction to 4-Digit Numbers
- Number Names up to 1000
