A Simple Common Core Math Problem

What they're asking kids to do is this: Rather than simply memorize the fact that seven plus seven equals fourteen, they're training kids to recognize possible shortcuts or easier paths to computation. If a kid realizes a seven is made up of 3 plus four, and remembers that three plus seven equals ten, then he can "simplify" the problem as ten plus four, which gives fourteen.
Here's the problem: The shortcut/easier path of computation is actually more complicated than just learning that seven plus seven equals fourteen.
Thanx to Ace of Spades HQ

Now you know how simple it is.