Place value

In our number system each digit is worth ten times as much as the same digit one place to its right. Where a digit sits tells you what it is worth: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and tenths and hundredths after the decimal point.

Key facts

  • Columns go … thousands, hundreds, tens, ones . tenths, hundredths …
  • Each column is worth 10 times the one to its right.
  • Zero is a place holder: in 305 it shows there are no tens.
  • Partition numbers to see each part: 4726 = 4000 + 700 + 20 + 6.

Worked examples

Example 1

What is the value of the 7 in 4726?

  1. Count from the right: ones (6), tens (2), hundreds (7).
  2. So the 7 is worth 7 hundreds. 7 × 100 = 700

Answer: 700

Example 2

Write 3 thousands, 0 hundreds, 5 tens and 2 ones as a number.

  1. Th H T O
  2. 3 0 5 2: the 0 keeps the hundreds column empty. 3052

Answer: 3052

Example 3

What is 10 times 4.7?

  1. Multiplying by 10 moves each digit one place to the left.
  2. 4 ones become 4 tens; 7 tenths become 7 ones. 4.7 × 10 = 47

Answer: 47