What is place value?
Every digit in a number has a place and a value. In a four-digit number, the places are thousands, hundreds, tens and ones. The value of a digit depends on where it sits.
| Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 7 | 6 |
Worked example
In 3 476, the digit 4 is in the hundreds place, so its value is 400. The digit 7 is in the tens place, so its value is 70.
Expanded form
We can write a number as the sum of its place values. This is called expanded form: 3 476 = 3 000 + 400 + 70 + 6. Expanded form helps us see clearly how much each digit is really worth.
The same digit can mean very different amounts. In 3 476 the 4 means 400, but in 4 300 the 4 means 4 000. Where a digit sits is just as important as the digit itself.
Remember
- The same digit in a different place has a different value.
- A 0 in a place means that place has no value.
- The thousands place is the biggest in a four-digit number.