Each digit has its place
You learn what a digit is worth by looking at its place, and how to build a number from its parts.
How to work it out
- Name the places from the right: ones, tens, hundreds.
- Find the place the digit is in.
- Multiply the digit by the value of that place.
- To build a number, add the parts.
D1.000
—
H100
5
T10
3
E1
4
500 + 30 + 4=534
A worked example
What is the value of the 3 in 534?
- Name the places from the right: 4 ones, 3 tens, 5 hundreds.
- The 3 is in the tens place.
- Do 3 × 10 = 30.
D1.000
—
H100
0
T10
0
E1
3
More examples
What is the value of the 7 in 761?
- Name the places from the right: ones, tens, hundreds.
- The 7 is in the hundreds place.
- Do 7 × 100 = 700.
D1.000
—
H100
0
T10
0
E1
7
3 H + 4 T + 2 O
- H, T and O stand for hundreds, tens and ones.
- Work out each part: 3 × 100 = 300, 4 × 10 = 40 and 2 × 1 = 2.
- Add them: 300 + 40 + 2 = 342.
D1.000
—
H100
0
T10
0
E1
3
5 H + 7 O
- Work out each part: 5 × 100 = 500 and 7 × 1 = 7.
- There are no tens, so write a 0 there.
- Add them: 500 + 7 = 507.
D1.000
—
H100
0
T10
0
E1
5
Try it yourself
What is the value of the 1 in 913?
What is the value of the 7 in 761?
Watch out
You give the digit itself as the answer: for the 3 in 534 you say 3.
Ask yourself which place the digit is in. If it is in the tens place, multiply it by 10.
You write the digits next to each other: 5 H + 7 O becomes 57.
Check whether there is something in each place. If there are no tens, write a 0 there: 507.
Tips
- Always start counting the places from the right: the last digit is the ones.
- Fill an empty place with a 0, so the other digits stay in their places.
Exceptions
- If there are 10 or more in one place, like 12 T, just work it out: 12 T is 120.
Why it works
A 3 is not always worth 3. In 534 the 3 is in the tens place, so it is worth 30. Each place to the left is worth ten times as much. That way you can write any number with just ten digits, and build any number from its parts.