How to explain place value-100's in 1's, 10's & 100's to your child
29 October 2026
Understanding place value helps your child see how each digit in a number has its own meaning. When children know what hundreds, tens and ones stand for, they can break down numbers and solve problems with confidence.
Example question
What is the value of each digit in the number 342?
Step 1: Look at the hundreds place. The digit 3 is in the hundreds place, so it means 3 hundreds, which is 300.
Step 2: Look at the tens place. The digit 4 is in the tens place, so it means 4 tens, which is 40.
Step 3: Look at the ones place. The digit 2 is in the ones place, so it means 2 ones, which is 2.
Step 4: Add these values together: 300 + 40 + 2.
The correct answer is: The number 342 is made up of 300 + 40 + 2.
| Place | Digit | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Hundreds | 3 | 300 |
| Tens | 4 | 40 |
| Ones | 2 | 2 |
Now your child can spot the value of each digit in a three-digit number. This skill is key for building number sense and is used in many 11+ maths questions. More practice with similar place value problems is ready to help your child get even stronger.
