🔢 MathGrade 2Lesson 3
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Understand Hundreds, Tens, and Ones

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Identify the hundreds, tens, and ones digits in a three-digit number
  • 2State the value of each digit in a three-digit number
  • 3Write a three-digit number in expanded form (e.g., 453 = 400 + 50 + 3)
  • 4Explain why zero is needed as a placeholder (e.g., in 306 or 250)
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Mini Lesson

In any number, where a digit sits tells you how much it is worth — that is what we call place value!

The three places in a three-digit number

  • The hundreds place is on the left. A digit there is worth that many hundreds.
  • The tens place is in the middle. A digit there is worth that many tens.
  • The ones place is on the right. A digit there is worth that many ones.

Reading the value of each digit

  • In 453: the 4 is in the hundreds place → value = 400.
  • The 5 is in the tens place → value = 50.
  • The 3 is in the ones place → value = 3.
  • So 453 = 400 + 50 + 3. This is called expanded form.

Zero as a placeholder

  • If a place has no value, we write a 0 to hold its spot.
  • Example: 306 has 3 hundreds, 0 tens, and 6 ones.
  • Without the 0, the number would look completely different!
Place value chart for 453A three-column place value chart. Hundreds column contains 4, value 400. Tens column contains 5, value 50. Ones column contains 3, value 3. Below: 400 plus 50 plus 3 equals 453.Place Value — 453HundredsTensOnes453= 400= 50= 3400 + 50 + 3 = 453This is called expanded form!
A place value chart showing 453 split into hundreds (4 = 400), tens (5 = 50), and ones (3 = 3), giving 400 + 50 + 3.
Zero as a placeholder in 306Place value chart for 306. Hundreds column: 3, value 300. Tens column: 0, value 0 — labeled placeholder. Ones column: 6, value 6. Expanded form: 300 plus 0 plus 6 equals 306.Zero Placeholder — 306HundredsTensOnes306= 300placeholder= 0= 6300 + 0 + 6 = 306The 0 holds the tens place!
A place value chart for 306 showing 3 hundreds (300), 0 tens (placeholder), and 6 ones (6), giving 300 + 0 + 6.
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Ask yourself: "Which place is this digit in? What is its value?"

Vocabulary
Place value
The value a digit has based on its place in the numbere.g. The place value of 5 in 453 is fifty.
Hundreds place
The third spot from the right in a number, worth that many hundredse.g. In 453, the digit 4 is in the hundreds place.
Tens place
The second spot from the right, worth that many tense.g. In 453, the digit 5 is in the tens place.
Ones place
The first spot from the right, worth that many onese.g. In 453, the digit 3 is in the ones place.
Expanded form
A number written as the sum of the value of each digite.g. 453 in expanded form is 400 + 50 + 3.
Placeholder
A zero used to keep a place when there is no value theree.g. The 0 in 306 is a placeholder for the tens.
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← Lesson 2: Read and Write Numbers in WordsLesson 4: Compare and Order 3-Digit Numbers →