Place Value

What Is Place Value?

Place value tells us what each digit means in a number.
The position of a digit decides if it is ones, tens, hundreds, and so on.

The Ones and Tens

• Ones are the first spot on the right.
• Tens are the next spot to the left.

If we have the number 23:

• The 3 is in the ones place, so it means three ones.
• The 2 is in the tens place, so it means two groups of ten (20).

Together they make twenty‑three.

Fun Practice

1. Look at the number 48. Which digit is in the tens place?
2. Write the number that has 5 tens and 2 ones.
3. Draw a picture of three tens and four ones.

Remember: the farther left a digit is, the bigger its value!