Lesson 1 of 12
🔢 Place Value
What You'll Learn
- What place value means in a 3-digit number
- The difference between hundreds, tens, and ones
- How to decompose any number up to 999
Every Digit Has a Place
In the number 347, each digit means something different depending on its position:
- The 3 is in the hundreds place — it means 300
- The 4 is in the tens place — it means 40
- The 7 is in the ones place — it means 7
So 347 = 300 + 40 + 7. This is called expanded form.
The Digit 0 Matters!
In the number 305, the 0 in the tens place means there are zero tens. Without it, 35 is a completely different number. Zero is a placeholder that holds the place value open.
Comparing Numbers
When comparing two numbers, always start with the largest place value first (hundreds, then tens, then ones).
- 458 vs 372 → 4 hundreds > 3 hundreds → 458 is greater
- 256 vs 261 → same hundreds (2), same tens (5 vs 6) → 261 is greater
Quick Check
1. In the number 482, what does the 8 represent?
2. Which number has a 5 in the hundreds place?
3. What is 600 + 30 + 9 in standard form?