What is place value?

Part of Mathematics and NumeracyNumberYear 3Year 3Year 4

Place value

A place value table with three columns. In the hundreds column is the number 4, in the tens column is the number 2 and in the ones column is the number 5.

Numbers are made of digits.

Where a digit is placed in a number tells you what value the digit has.

You can use place value headings, like ones, tens and hundreds, to help you understand the value of each digit.

A place value table with three columns. In the hundreds column is the number 4, in the tens column is the number 2 and in the ones column is the number 5.
Back to top

Activity: What is place value?

Complete this interactive activity to understand place value and put your knowledge to the test.

Back to top

Understanding place value

There are only ten digits that you can use to write any number. These are:

0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

When only one digit is used, such as 4, it represents 4 ones.

When two digits are used, for example in the number 54, the digit 4 still represents ones, but the digit 5 represents 5 tens, which is 50.

50 + 4 = 54

When three digits are used, such as in the number 354, the digit 4 represents ones, the 5 represents 5 tens, and the 3 represents 3 hundreds, which is 300.

300+ 50 + 4 = 354

Skip image gallery
  1. A place value chart with three columns, hundreds, tens and ones. In the ones column there are 4 blocks and the number 4 is below them.

    Here are 4 ones.

It is important to write the digits in the correct places so that they represent the correct values.

You can use place value counters and part-whole models to help you understand place value.

Skip image gallery
  1. A place value chart with three columns. In the hundreds column there are 3 hundred counters. In the tens column there are 5 tens counters. In the ones column there are 4 ones counters.

    Take a look at these place value counters. What number do they represent?

Back to top

Example 1

A place value chart with three columns. In the hundreds column there are 6 sets of one-hundred squares. In the tens column there are 5 stacks of ten cubes. In the ones column there is 1 cube.

What number does this place value chart represent?

Back to top

Example 2

A place value chart with three columns. In the hundreds column there are five 100-counters. In the tens column there are 6 10-counters. In the ones column there are 4 1-counters.

What number do these place value counters represent?

Back to top

Example 3

The numbers 856 has been partitioned into 3 numbers. the first number is blank, the second number is 50 and the third number is 6.

What number is missing from this part-whole model?

Back to top

In this game, use the times tables and more maths skills to defeat monsters and reclaim the Kingdom.

Play Guardians: Defenders of Mathematica to get ready for SATs.
Back to top

More on Number

Find out more by working through a topic