Place value is the idea that a digit’s position changes its value. In 47, the 4 means four tens (40) and the 7 means seven ones. Understanding this is what makes two-digit adding and subtracting possible.
What your child will learn
- Say how many tens and ones are in any two-digit number
- Partition numbers such as 47 into 40 + 7
- Read and write numbers to 100 in digits and words
- Find 10 more and 10 less than a number
- Count in steps of 2, 3, 5 and 10
Tens and ones
Bundles of ten straws, ten-frames and base-ten blocks all show the same thing: a two-digit number is some tens and some ones. When children can see 36 as 3 tens and 6 ones, adding 10 simply means one more ten.
10 more and 10 less
Adding or subtracting 10 changes only the tens digit: 10 more than 36 is 46. Spotting this pattern is a big moment — and it is one of the fastest mental math tricks children will ever learn.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. What is the value of the 5 in 59?
Show answer
Answer: 50. The 5 is in the tens place, so it is worth 50.
2. What is the value of the 9 in 94?
Show answer
Answer: 90. The 9 is in the tens place, so it is worth 90.
3. What is the value of the 5 in 25?
Show answer
Answer: 5. The 5 is in the ones place, so it is worth 5.
Tips for grown-ups
- Bundle pencils or lolly sticks into tens and count the bundles.
- Look at prices and ask "How many tens? How many ones?"
- Use a 100 square to explore what happens when you move up or down a row.