Ones, Tens, and Hundreds
Learn how digits in different positions represent different values in our number system.
Definition
| Position | Value | Example in 253 |
|---|---|---|
| Hundreds | 100 | 2 hundreds = |
| Tens | 10 | 5 tens = |
| Ones | 1 | 3 ones = |
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Worked Examples
What is the value of each digit in 472?
Identify the ones digit
The rightmost digit is 2 →
Identify the tens digit
The middle digit is 7 →
Identify the hundreds digit
The leftmost digit is 4 →
Write in expanded form
Add all values together →
Answer: The 4 is worth 400, the 7 is worth 70, and the 2 is worth 2.
Common Mistakes
Confusing the digit with its value (saying the 5 in 350 is worth 5)
Why it's wrong: The position matters! The 5 is in the tens place, so it represents 50, not 5.
Correct: Always multiply the digit by its place value:
Forgetting zero as a placeholder (writing 608 as 68)
Why it's wrong: Zero holds the position. Without the 0, the 6 would move to the tens place.
Correct: 608 means 6 hundreds, 0 tens, 8 ones. The zero keeps 6 in the hundreds place.
Interactive Visual
Place Value Chart
| Hundreds 100 | Tens 10 | Ones 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 5 | 3 |
Expanded Form:
2 × 100 + 5 × 10 + 3 × 1
Click on any place value to highlight it and see its value.
Interactive Sandbox
Expression Calculator
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History
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Practice Problems
16 problemsIn the number 345, which digit is in the tens place?
Why It Matters
- Reading numbers: When you see 847, you know it means "eight hundred forty-seven"
- Adding and carrying: When adding 58 + 37, you need to know that 5 and 3 are in the tens place
- Money: A 100 dollar bill is worth ten 10 dollar bills, which is worth one hundred 1 dollar bills
- Measurement: 1 meter = 10 decimeters = 100 centimeters
Real World Applications
Money and Bills
Our money system uses place value! A 100 dollar bill equals ten 10 dollar bills or one hundred 1 dollar bills.
Example:
If you have 3 hundred dollar bills, 2 ten dollar bills, and 7 one dollar bills, you have 327 dollars total.
You have 4 hundred dollar bills, 5 ten dollar bills, and 6 one dollar bills.
How much money do you have in total?
Step 1: Write the mathematical expression
Calculate the total:
Addresses and House Numbers
House numbers use place value. House 253 comes after 252 and before 254.
Example:
On a street, house 100 is at the start of a block, 200 is at the next block, and so on.
A house number is 5 hundreds, 0 tens, and 9 ones.
What is the house number?
Step 1: Write the mathematical expression
Find the house number:
Key Takeaways
- 1Each position in a number has a value: ones (1), tens (10), hundreds (100)
- 2The value of a digit equals the digit times its place value
- 3Expanded form shows a number as the sum of each digit's value:
- 4Zero is a placeholder that keeps other digits in their correct positions
Frequently Asked Questions
Glossary
- Place value
- The value of a digit based on its position in a number
- Digit
- A single symbol used to write numbers (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- Expanded form
- A number written as the sum of each digit's value (e.g., )
- Placeholder
- A zero that holds a position when there are no units of that value