Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

Place Value in Year Three Understanding Hundreds Tens and Ones

Reviewed by:
ffImage
hightlight icon
highlight icon
highlight icon
share icon
copy icon

What Is Place Value in Year Three With Simple Examples and Practice Questions

In Year 3 Maths, kids generally learn to use the place value to identify the place value of digits, they are also taught to use the place value chart. Teaching your kids about the use and concept of place value can help them develop a better understanding of Maths concepts. Understanding place value can be easier when explained with various pictorial representations. Here, we have tried explaining the meaning of the place value, along with some tips that can help teachers and parents to help kids understand the concept.


So, let us go through this article to help a kid studying in Year 3 understand the place value.


What Does Place Value Mean?

The value of each digit in a number is called its place value. The value of each digit in a given number is different based on its position. Place value can be defined as the value of a digit according to its position in the number such as ones, tens, hundreds, and so on. For example, the place value of 5 in 2357 is 5 tens, or 50. But the place value of 5 in 5634 is expressed as 5 thousands or 5,000. So, a digit can be the same, but its value depends on its position in the number. 


The Concept of Place Value Year 3


The Concept of Place Value Year 3


So, the student understands the concept of place value via visual representation.


Tips for the Students:

  • Talk About Numbers Around him/her

Everywhere we can find numbers and these numbers can tell us all sorts of different things. For example, some numbers tell us about the number of pens in a packet, the amount of something in a container/jar (for example, ‘there are ten sweets in the jar’).

Some tell us about your brother’s daily salary (for example, ‘My brother earns 2000 each day’). And some are just used for labelling the price (for example, ‘we are purchasing a gift of Rs. 5300 for my sister on her birthday’).


Talking about how we use numbers in the real world can help a student understand why they are important. For example, you could talk about numbers when you are going far away, buying something, telling the price of an item, or catching a train of a number 3307 at a particular time.


  • Count 

A student studying in Year 3 should know why, how, and when to count. You can bring this into his/her practice by counting orally through rhymes or songs. 


Place value charts can be best understood by representing numbers to students. These charts will help your child to read, write, and compare numbers as well as help your child to understand zero as a placeholder. Here, you can find a simple example:


Place Value Chart


Place Value Chart


  • Comparing Numbers Till 1000

While comparing numbers up to 1000, you should start with the right-most digit first because that very digit is at the highest place value or a position. For example, if your child is comparing the numbers 856 and 398, he should first look at the number ‘8’ in 856 and ‘3’ in 398, which is:


856 has 8 hundreds, and 398 has 3 hundreds, so here we can understand that 856 has more hundreds than in 398. Also, it is also clear that 856 is greater than 398.


However, if we compare the numbers 856 and the number 895, they both have the same number of hundreds. We now look forward to the tens digit of both the numbers, which is:


856 has 5 tens, and 895 only has 9 tens, so on comparing the number of tens, you will notice that 895 has more tens than 856. Hence, 895 is greater than 856.


  • Learn Multiplication Facts

A child studying in Year 3 must have a good grasp of multiplication facts. They need to learn 3, 4, and 8 tables. Though they are familiar with the 2, 5, and 10 times tables, they still need to practise all the tables till 10.


Various offline activities like counting the number of objects around them, or online games like bingo, snap, and pairs can be adapted to focus on times tables. Such activities are great and can be fitted in at any time of the day. 


For example, you could make some symbols and put them on the table to make your student memorise these tables and then explain a place value to them. The example for the same is shown below:


Place Value Concept


Place Value Concept

Place Value of a Three-digit Number


Place Value of a Three-digit Number


Solved Examples

1. A number has 5 thousands, 6 hundreds, and 4 tens. What is the number?

Solution:

The place value of the following digits are:

5 thousands = 5,000

6 hundreds = 600

4 tens = 40

Adding these numbers together, we get 5,000 + 600 + 40 = 5640. Therefore, the number is 5640.


2. What is the place value of 3 in 6370?

Solution: 3 in the given number 6370 is at hundreds place. So, the place value of 3 in 6370 is 3 hundreds. This place value can be expressed as 3 × 100 = 300.


Conclusion

From the above text, we understood the concept of place value in Year 3. We have also understood that a digit can be the same, but its value depends on its position in the number. For example, 199 can be expressed as one thousand, nine tens, and nine ones. Again, this is much easier to explain to the students using objects or pictures of the numbers or even online games, as mentioned in the article.

FAQs on Place Value in Year Three Understanding Hundreds Tens and Ones

1. What is place value in Year Three Maths?

Place value is the value of a digit based on its position in a number. In Year Three Maths, students work with numbers up to at least 1,000 and learn that each digit represents hundreds, tens, or ones. For example, in 345:

  • 3 represents 300 (3 hundreds)
  • 4 represents 40 (4 tens)
  • 5 represents 5 (5 ones)
This understanding helps with addition, subtraction, and comparing numbers.

2. What are hundreds, tens, and ones?

Hundreds, tens, and ones are the basic place value columns in three-digit numbers. In the number 582:

  • 5 is in the hundreds place = 500
  • 8 is in the tens place = 80
  • 2 is in the ones place = 2
Each move to the left makes the value 10 times bigger, which is a key Year Three place value rule.

3. How do you write a number in expanded form in Year Three?

Expanded form means writing a number by showing the value of each digit. To write 764 in expanded form:

  • 7 hundreds = 700
  • 6 tens = 60
  • 4 ones = 4
So, 764 = 700 + 60 + 4. Expanded form helps students clearly see place value.

4. How do you compare two three-digit numbers?

To compare two three-digit numbers, look at the digits from left to right starting with the hundreds. For example, compare 482 and 459:

  • Both have 4 hundreds
  • Compare tens: 8 tens is greater than 5 tens
So, 482 > 459. Always compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.

5. What is the value of a digit in a number?

The value of a digit depends on its place in the number. In 931, the digit 3 has a value of 30 because it is in the tens place. The same digit can have different values; for example:

  • In 300, 3 = 300
  • In 30, 3 = 30
  • In 3, 3 = 3
This shows how place value changes a digit’s worth.

6. How do you round numbers to the nearest 10 in Year Three?

To round to the nearest 10, look at the ones digit. If the ones digit is 5 or more, round up; if it is 4 or less, round down. For example:

  • 67 rounds to 70 (7 is 5 or more)
  • 42 rounds to 40 (2 is less than 5)
This is an important place value skill in Year Three Maths.

7. How do you partition a three-digit number?

Partitioning means breaking a number into hundreds, tens, and ones. For example, partition 853:

  • 800 (8 hundreds)
  • 50 (5 tens)
  • 3 (3 ones)
So, 853 = 800 + 50 + 3. Partitioning helps with mental maths and written calculations.

8. What is the difference between place and place value?

Place tells you the position of a digit, while place value tells you how much the digit is worth. For example, in 624:

  • The digit 2 is in the tens place (its position)
  • Its place value is 20 (its worth)
Understanding this difference is essential in Year Three place value lessons.

9. How do you order three-digit numbers from smallest to largest?

To order three-digit numbers, compare the hundreds first, then tens, then ones. For example, order 321, 312, and 329:

  • All have 3 hundreds
  • Compare tens: 1, 2, and 2
  • Compare ones if needed
The correct order is 312, 321, 329. This method uses place value to sort numbers correctly.

10. Why is place value important in Year Three Maths?

Place value is important because it helps students understand how numbers are built and supports addition, subtraction, rounding, and problem solving. Knowing that digits represent hundreds, tens, and ones allows children to:

  • Perform column addition and subtraction correctly
  • Compare and order numbers
  • Round numbers accurately
Strong place value knowledge forms the foundation for all later maths learning.