Place Value — Grade 2 Mathematics

In Grade 2, we extend place value to 3-digit numbers. Each digit has a place — Hundreds, Tens, and Ones — and its place tells us its value.

Hundreds, Tens and Ones

10 tens make 1 hundred. A 3-digit number has three columns:

Hundreds

Tens

Ones

The number is 472 = 400 + 70 + 2

Value of Each Digit

In 472:

The 4 is in the hundreds place → value = 400
The 7 is in the tens place → value = 70
The 2 is in the ones place → value = 2

💡 Same digit, different value! In 472, the digit 4 = 400. In 247, the digit 4 = 40. The position changes the value.

Comparing 3-digit Numbers

Compare hundreds first. If hundreds are equal, compare tens. If tens are equal, compare ones.

385

3 hundreds

392

3 hundreds, 9 tens

Both have 3 hundreds, so compare tens: 8 tens < 9 tens → 385 < 392

Worked Examples

Example 1 — Write in Expanded Form

Write 638 in expanded form.

6 in hundreds place → 600
3 in tens place → 30
8 in ones place → 8

638 = 600 + 30 + 8

Example 2 — Value of a Digit

What is the value of the digit 5 in the number 259?

2 → hundreds (200), 5 → tens, 9 → ones
The digit 5 is in the tens place
Its value is 50

Example 3 — Build a Number from Expanded Form

What number is 500 + 40 + 9?

500 → 5 in hundreds place
40 → 4 in tens place
9 → 9 in ones place
The number is 549

Practice Questions

1. Write 817 in expanded form.

✅ 817 = 800 + 10 + 7

2. What is the value of the digit 3 in 934?

✅ The digit 3 is in the tens place. Its value is 30.

3. What number is 700 + 60 + 5?

✅ 765

4. Which is greater: 429 or 463?

✅ Both have 4 hundreds. Compare tens: 2 < 6, so 463 is greater.

5. In 505, what is the value of each digit 5?

✅ The first 5 (hundreds) = 500; the second 5 (ones) = 5. Same digit, different value!

Key Points to Remember

A 3-digit number has three places: Hundreds | Tens | Ones.
10 ones = 1 ten; 10 tens = 1 hundred; 10 hundreds = 1 thousand.
The same digit has a different value depending on its place.
Expanded form: 638 = 600 + 30 + 8.
To compare, look at the hundreds first, then tens, then ones.

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