In order to work with numbers, we need to learn how to describe numbers. This will help us understand place value.
Let’s figure out how to write numbers in the proper place value. It’s important to know what the digits in each place value tell us.
Whole numbers with three digits have three place values. The hundreds place (hundreds column)is on the left side. This tells how many hundreds are in the number. The tens place (tens column) is in the middle and tells us how many tens are in the number. The ones place (ones column) is on the right side. It tells us how many ones are in the number.
Look at the number 542. The 5, the 4, and the 2 each sit in a different place value. The 5 is in the hundreds place. The 4 is in the tens place. Where is the 2? The 2 is in the ones place.
A number like 75 has only two digits. Whole numbers with two digits have two place values. The tens place is on the left. The ones place is on the right. Let’s look at the number: 75. In what place value does 75 start? It starts in the tens place. In what place value does 75 end? It ends in the ones place. What about the number 3? In what place value does it start? It starts in the ones place. In what place value does it end? It also ends in the ones place.
