Understanding Place Value

Every digit in a number has a special place, and each place has a value. In third grade, we work with numbers up to the thousands place!

• The ones place is the far right digit.
• The tens place is the next digit to the left.
• The hundreds place comes next.
• The thousands place is one more to the left.

Breaking Numbers Apart

Numbers can be shown in different ways:

• Standard form: 2,348
• Word form: Two thousand three hundred forty-eight
• Expanded form: 2,000 + 300 + 40 + 8

Comparing and Ordering Numbers

You can use place value to compare numbers. Look at the biggest place first!

• 3,520 is bigger than 2,985 because 3 is greater than 2 in the thousands place.

Real-World Use

Place value helps you understand prices, population numbers, and more in everyday life.