Place Value Activities for Kids

Place value, in Mathematics, describes the value of every digit in a number depending on its position. These positions start from the unit's place (one's place). The order of the place value of digits in a number from right to left is expressed as ones/units, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, and so on. For example, the place value of 2 in 1420 is 2 tens, or 20. However, the place value of 9 in 9001 is expressed as 9 thousand or 9,000.

The value of each digit in a number is known as a place value. It is important to understand that a digit can have the same value regardless of where it comes in the number. In this article, we will see place value chart activities and learn how to teach place value.

What is Place Value?

Each digit in a number has a place value in Mathematics. Place value is the value a digit in a number represents, dependent on where it is in the number.

It is important to understand that a digit can be the same, but its value depends on its position in the number. For example, the place value of 5 in 3458 is 5 tens, or 50. However, the place value of 5 in 5781 is expressed as 5 thousand or 5,000.

Place Value

Place Value Meaning

The value of a digit is determined by its place in the number, such as ones, tens, hundreds, and so on.

Example: Write down the place value of each digit in the number 543.

Ans: The correct place value of each digit in the number can be expressed as follows:

5 × 100 = 500 or 5 hundred

4 × 10 = 40 or 4 tens

3 × 1 = 3 or 3 ones

Place Value Method

Place Value Charts

Place value charts help us ensure the digits are aligned in the correct places. A place value chart displays a digit's correct position or place in a number. To identify the positional values or worth of different digits in a number, we first write the given digits in the place value chart to check their position. The larger numbers are divided into periods that are separated with commas.

There are two types of place value charts that are most commonly used:

• Indian Place Value Chart:

The Indian place value chart is a table used to find the value of each digit in a number based on its position, as per the Indian numeral system. In this place value chart, a 10-digit number is grouped into periods of ones, thousands, lakhs, crores, and so on. Commas separate these numbers following the rule of 3:2:2. Starting from the right, the first comma is placed after 3 digits, and the next commas are placed after every 2 digits. For example, observe the commas in the following number: 5,43,13,62,283.

• International Place Value Chart: The International numeral system is used worldwide in which we count in the order of ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousand, hundred thousand, millions, and so on. In this place value chart, the numbers are grouped into periods of ones, thousands, millions, and so on, and they are separated by a comma after every 3 digits, starting from the right. For example, observe the commas in the following number: 135,912,332.

Place Value Chart

How to Teach Place Value?

In the primary arithmetic curriculum, place value may be one of the essential topics.

The following things can be done to teach place value to kids:

• Use place value mats to make reading and writing numbers easier.

• Provide opportunities to count by groups of 10’s and 100’s.

• Use a daily place value warm-up to build confidence

These things can be done repeatedly so kids can get used to them.

Solved Examples

Example 1: What is the place value of 8 in the number 14,809?

Ans: The place value of 8 in 14,809 is 800 (eight hundred).

Example 2: A number has 3 thousand, 7 hundred, and 2 tens. What is the number?

Ans: The place value of the following digits is:

3 thousands = 3,000

7 hundreds = 700

2 tens = 20

Adding these numbers together, we get 3,000 + 700 + 20 = 3720. Therefore, the number is 3720.

Example 3: What is the place value of 7 in 371?

Ans: The place value of the following digits is:

3 hundreds = 300

7 tens = 70

1 ones = 1

Hence, the place value of 7 is tens.

Example 4: Write the place value of each digit in 421.

• 1 is at one place with a value of 1

• 2 is at the tens place with a value of 20

• 4 is at the hundreds place with a value of 400

Practice Problems

Q1. Ram needs to choose the place value of 1 in 3142 from the following options. Help him choose the correct option.

1. 1

2. 10

3. 100

4. 1000

Ans: 100

Q2. Identify the place value of 3 in 939 is 300 (3 hundred).

1. True

2. False

Ans: False

Q3. Which digit is at the ten thousandth place in the number 783,425?

1. 7

2. 8

3. 4

4. 5

Ans: 8

Summary

The value of a digit is determined by its position in the number, such as ones, tens, hundreds, and so on. Every digit in a number has a specific position and value according to place value. Starting from the right, the first digit will be at one place, the second digit at the tens place, the third at the hundreds place, and so on.

We also learned about the place value chart, i.e., a table used to determine the numerical value of each digit in a number. This article is also available offline. Just tap on the download option of the place value activities PDF and enjoy the learning.