Understanding Place Value vs. Name Value

What is Name Value?

Name value is simply the digit itself – what the number is called.

Example: In the number 47

  • The name value of 4 is “four”
  • The name value of 7 is “seven”

Think of it like this: If you see the digit 5 all by itself, you say “five” – that’s its name!

What is Place Value?

Place value tells us how much a digit is worth based on WHERE it sits in the number.

Example: In the number 47

  • The 4 is in the tens place, so its place value is 40 (4 tens = 40)
  • The 7 is in the ones place, so its place value is 7 (7 ones = 7)

The Big Idea: The same digit can have different values depending on where it lives!

  • In 25, the 2 means 20 (2 tens)
  • In 52, the 2 means 2 (2 ones)

Understanding Expanded Form

What is Expanded Form?

Expanded form shows us how to “break apart” a number to see what each digit is worth.

Think of it like breaking a toy into pieces to see how it’s made!

The Place Value Chart (Up to 200)

Hundreds | Tens | Ones
    1    |  5   |  3

This shows the number 153


How to Write Numbers in Expanded Form

For 2-Digit Numbers (up to 99)

Example 1: The number 47

  • 47 = 40 + 7
  • We say: “47 is 4 tens and 7 ones”
  • 4 tens = 40, and 7 ones = 7

Example 2: The number 83

  • 83 = 80 + 3
  • We say: “83 is 8 tens and 3 ones”

For 3-Digit Numbers (100 to 200)

Example 1: The number 125

  • 125 = 100 + 20 + 5
  • We say: “125 is 1 hundred, 2 tens, and 5 ones”

Example 2: The number 187

  • 187 = 100 + 80 + 7
  • We say: “187 is 1 hundred, 8 tens, and 7 ones”

Example 3: The number 200

  • 200 = 200 + 0 + 0 or just 200
  • We say: “200 is 2 hundreds, 0 tens, and 0 ones”

Step-by-Step Method

The “Look, Circle, Write” Method

Let’s try with 134:

Step 1: LOOK at each digit and its place

  • 1 is in the hundreds place
  • 3 is in the tens place
  • 4 is in the ones place

Step 2: CIRCLE and say what each digit means

  • 1 hundred = 100
  • 3 tens = 30
  • 4 ones = 4

Step 3: WRITE it with plus signs

  • 134 = 100 + 30 + 4

Tips and Tricks

Trick #1: The Zero Rule

When you see a zero, that place has no value!

  • In 105: The tens place has 0, so we write 100 + 0 + 5 or just 100 + 5
  • In 120: The ones place has 0, so we write 100 + 20 + 0 or just 100 + 20

Trick #2: Count the Zeros

To find place value quickly, count the zeros after the digit:

  • 1 in the tens place = 10 (one zero)
  • 1 in the hundreds place = 100 (two zeros)
  • 3 in the tens place = 30 (one zero)
  • 5 in the ones place = 5 (no zeros)

Trick #3: Use Base-10 Blocks

Visualize numbers with blocks:

  • Hundreds: A big flat square (100 little squares)
  • Tens: A long stick (10 little squares)
  • Ones: A tiny cube (1 square)

So 143 looks like: 1 big flat + 4 sticks + 3 cubes

Trick #4: The “Building Blocks” Song

Make up a little chant:

  • “What’s the place? What’s the space? How much is it worth in that place?”

Trick #5: Practice with Money

  • 1 hundred = 1 dollar bill ($100)
  • 1 ten = 1 dime (10¢) or think of it as $10
  • 1 one = 1 penny (1¢) or $1

So $145 = one $100 bill + four $10 bills + five $1 bills


Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake #1: Forgetting the Zero

❌ Wrong: 150 = 15 + 0 ✓ Correct: 150 = 100 + 50 + 0 (or 100 + 50)

Mistake #2: Writing Just the Digit

❌ Wrong: 182 = 1 + 8 + 2 ✓ Correct: 182 = 100 + 80 + 2

Mistake #3: Mixing Up Places

❌ Wrong: 67 = 7 + 60 ✓ Correct: 67 = 60 + 7 (Always write hundreds first, then tens, then ones)


 

Quick Reference Chart

Number Expanded Form How to Say It
45 40 + 5 4 tens and 5 ones
102 100 + 2 1 hundred and 2 ones
130 100 + 30 1 hundred and 3 tens
199 100 + 90 + 9 1 hundred, 9 tens, and 9 ones
200 200 2 hundreds

Remember!

🌟 Name value = What the digit is called (just the number itself)

🌟 Place value = What the digit is WORTH (depends on where it sits)

🌟 Expanded form = Breaking the number into its place value parts

Think of a number like a train: Each car (digit) carries a different amount depending on its position in the train!

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