What Is Place Value?
Place value is a way to understand how much each digit in a number is worth, depending on where it is placed.
You already know that in math, numbers are made up of digits — like 3, 7, or 9. But the value of each digit depends on its position in the number.
347,286
Look at this number carefully. Let’s write it down and label the place value of each digit:
So when you read 347,286, each digit is showing a value based on where it is:
The 3 is not just 3 — it’s in the hundred thousands place, so it
means 300,000.
The 4 is in the ten thousands place, so it means 40,000.
The 7 is in the thousands place, so it means 7,000, and so on.
When you add all those values, you get the whole number:
300,000 + 40,000 + 7,000 + 200 + 80 + 6 = 347,286
Three hundred forty-seven thousand, two hundred eighty-six.
Why Is Place Value Important?
1. You need to understand place value so you can:
2. Read and write large numbers correctly.
3. Know the difference between 52 and 502 (they’re not the same!).
4. Add, subtract, multiply, and divide numbers accurately.
5. Understand decimals (we’ll explore this later!).
Let's Practice (Journal)
Let’s look at the number: 5,203
1. What is the value of the 5? → __________
It’s in the _____________ place.
2. What is the value of the 2? → __________
It’s in the _____________ place.
3. What is the value of the 0? → __________
It’s in the _____________ place.
4. What is the value of the 3? → __________
It’s in the _____________ place.
Can you tell the value of the colored digits?
6
82
→ The 8 is in the __________ place.
What is its value? __________
4
01,723
→ The 0 is in the __________ place.
What is its value? __________
23
5,710
→ The 5 is in the __________ place.
What is its value? ___________
Final Reminder
Every digit has a value based on its place. The farther to the left, the bigger the value. As you go to the right, the value becomes smaller. That’s why 1,000 is greater than 100, and 100 is greater than 10.
