Maths - place value

Children start learning about place value once tens and units are introduced. They will initially use place value headings 1, 10 and 100.  A number is made up of one or more digits.  In our decimal number system the value of the number or digit depends where it is placed within the number. Each place has a value of 10 i.e. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 are all units ... hence in the units column. But when we reach to 10 ... this is the first number in the Tens column with a zero in the unit column.The number 427, for example, comprises the digits 4, 2 and 7. The position of a digit within a number is very important. - its value depends on its position in the number. Place value headings are used to work out the value of each digit in a number.

Millions	Hundred thousands	Ten thousands	Thousands	Hundreds	Tens	Units
	5	4	9	8	2	7

So the number 549827 is five hundred and forty nine thousand, eight hundred and twenty seven.