Ones, Tens and Hundreds
Every number you have ever written or read uses three basic building blocks: ones, tens and hundreds. These are the first three place value positions in our decimal number system and they are the foundation of all arithmetic.
The Ones Place
The ones place is the rightmost position in a whole number. A digit in this position represents its face value – nothing more, nothing less.
The Tens Place
The tens place is one position to the left of the ones. A digit here is worth ten times its face value.
The Hundreds Place
The hundreds place is two positions from the right. A digit here is worth one hundred times its face value.
Putting It Together – Three-Digit Numbers
Any three-digit number uses all three positions. Consider the number 364:
| Digit | Position | Place Value |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Hundreds | 300 |
| 6 | Tens | 60 |
| 4 | Ones | 4 |
The Pattern – Powers of 10
| Place | Value | Power of 10 |
|---|---|---|
| Ones | 1 | 10⁰ |
| Tens | 10 | 10¹ |
| Hundreds | 100 | 10² |
Each place is exactly 10 times greater than the place to its right.
More Examples
| Number | Hundreds | Tens | Ones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 52 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
| 108 | 1 | 0 | 8 |
| 975 | 9 | 7 | 5 |
| 600 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
The Role of Zero
Zero holds a position open. In 108, the zero in the tens place tells us there are no tens – without it, 108 would collapse to 18.
- Ones is the rightmost place in a whole number.
- Tens is ten times greater than ones.
- Hundreds is ten times greater than tens (one hundred times ones).
- Each place increases by a factor of 10 moving left.
- Zero is a placeholder that keeps all other digits in their correct positions.
Quick Practice
- What is the place value of 8 in the number 83?
- What digit is in the hundreds place of 527?
- Write 200 + 40 + 7 as a single number.
- What is the place value of 9 in the number 906?
- How many tens are in the number 350?
Summary
Ones, tens and hundreds are the three fundamental positions in our decimal number system. Understanding them is the gateway to reading and writing any number, from simple two-digit values up to the largest numbers in existence. In the next lesson we extend this idea far beyond hundreds.