Understand Hundreds, Tens, and Ones
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What you will learn
- 1Identify the hundreds, tens, and ones digits in a three-digit number
- 2State the value of each digit in a three-digit number
- 3Write a three-digit number in expanded form (e.g., 453 = 400 + 50 + 3)
- 4Explain why zero is needed as a placeholder (e.g., in 306 or 250)
Mini Lesson
In any number, where a digit sits tells you how much it is worth — that is what we call place value!
The three places in a three-digit number
- The hundreds place is on the left. A digit there is worth that many hundreds.
- The tens place is in the middle. A digit there is worth that many tens.
- The ones place is on the right. A digit there is worth that many ones.
Reading the value of each digit
- In 453: the 4 is in the hundreds place → value = 400.
- The 5 is in the tens place → value = 50.
- The 3 is in the ones place → value = 3.
- So 453 = 400 + 50 + 3. This is called expanded form.
Zero as a placeholder
- If a place has no value, we write a 0 to hold its spot.
- Example: 306 has 3 hundreds, 0 tens, and 6 ones.
- Without the 0, the number would look completely different!
Words to know
Place value
The value a digit has based on its place in the number
e.g. The place value of 5 in 453 is fifty.
Hundreds place
The third spot from the right in a number, worth that many hundreds
e.g. In 453, the digit 4 is in the hundreds place.
Tens place
The second spot from the right, worth that many tens
e.g. In 453, the digit 5 is in the tens place.
Ones place
The first spot from the right, worth that many ones
e.g. In 453, the digit 3 is in the ones place.
Expanded form
A number written as the sum of the value of each digit
e.g. 453 in expanded form is 400 + 50 + 3.
Placeholder
A zero used to keep a place when there is no value there
e.g. The 0 in 306 is a placeholder for the tens.
Ask yourself: "Which place is this digit in? What is its value?"
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