Place Value — Grade 1 Mathematics
Every number is made of digits. The place a digit sits in tells us its value. In Grade 1 we work with Tens and Ones — the two building blocks of 2-digit numbers.
Tens and Ones
When we count past 9, we make a group of ten. The digit on the left tells us how many tens; the digit on the right tells us how many ones.
Tens
3
Ones
4
The number 34 = 3 tens + 4 ones = 30 + 4
Base-10 Blocks Visual
3 tens = 30
+
4 ones = 4
= 34
💡 Remember: The tens digit is always on the left, the ones digit is always on the right.
Value of Each Digit
In the number 57:
- The digit 5 is in the tens place → its value is 50
- The digit 7 is in the ones place → its value is 7
- 57 = 50 + 7
Worked Examples
Example 1 — Read the Place Value Chart
What number is shown?
Tens
6
Ones
2
- 6 in the tens place → 60
- 2 in the ones place → 2
- 60 + 2 = 62
Example 2 — Find the Value of a Digit
In the number 48, what is the value of the digit 4?
- 48 → Tens digit = 4, Ones digit = 8
- The digit 4 is in the tens place
- Its value is 40
Example 3 — Write in Expanded Form
Write 73 in expanded form.
- 7 tens = 70
- 3 ones = 3
- 73 = 70 + 3
Practice Questions
1. How many tens and ones are in the number 29?
✅ 2 tens and 9 ones (20 + 9)
2. What is the value of the digit 5 in the number 51?
✅ The digit 5 is in the tens place. Its value is 50.
3. Write 46 in expanded form.
✅ 46 = 40 + 6
4. A place value chart shows 8 tens and 3 ones. What is the number?
✅ 8 tens = 80; 3 ones = 3; The number is 83.
5. Which digit is in the ones place in 67?
✅ The digit 7 is in the ones place.
Key Points to Remember
- Every 2-digit number has a tens digit (left) and an ones digit (right).
- The value of a digit depends on its place: tens digit × 10, ones digit × 1.
- Expanded form shows a number as a sum: 34 = 30 + 4.
- 10 ones = 1 ten; knowing this helps us understand how numbers are built.
- The biggest 2-digit number is 99 (9 tens + 9 ones).