Understanding Place Value with Place Value Houses

Have you ever come across a place value chart? If yes, did you know that you can also think of them as place value houses? This article, with its clear spoken and visual explanations, serves as a perfect introduction to the basics of place value and the simple learning strategy of place value houses.

What is a Place Value Chart?

A place value chart is a diagram that shows the value of each digit in a number. The chart is divided into columns, and each column represents a different place value. The place values are ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on. The digits in a number are written in the corresponding columns on the chart.

For example, the number 123 can be written on a place value chart as follows:

| Ones | Tens | Hundreds |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 |

The digit 3 is in the ones column, the digit 2 is in the tens column, and the digit 1 is in the hundreds column. This shows that the number 123 is made up of 1 hundred, 2 tens, and 3 ones.

Place Value Houses

You can also think of place value charts as place value houses. Each column on the chart represents a different room in the house. The ones column is the first room, the tens column is the second room, the hundreds column is the third room, and so on.

The digits in a number are like people living in the house. The digit in the ones column lives in the first room, the digit in the tens column lives in the second room, and so on.

For example, the number 123 can be represented as a place value house as follows:

| Ones | Tens | Hundreds |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 2 | 1 |

The digit 3 is living in the first room, the digit 2 is living in the second room, and the digit 1 is living in the third room.

Using Place Value Houses to Understand Numbers

Place value houses can help you to understand numbers in a more concrete way. By visualizing the digits as people living in a house, you can see how the numbers are made up of different parts.

For example, the number 123 can be thought of as a house with three rooms. The first room has 3 people living in it, the second room has 2 people living in it, and the third room has 1 person living in it. This shows that the number 123 is made up of 1 hundred, 2 tens, and 3 ones.

Conclusion

Place value charts and place value houses are both helpful tools for understanding place value. By using these tools, you can learn how to read and write numbers in a more efficient way.