Place Value

In a Nutshell

Every digit in a number has a value that depends on its position. Move one column left and the value is ten times bigger.

Our number system is built on powers of ten. Each column in a number is worth ten times the column to its right. That is why we call it a base-10 system.

For example, in the number $3{,}405{,}271$ the digit 4 is not just "four". It sits in the hundred thousands column, so it represents $400{,}000$ .

The place value chart below lets you type any number up to $9{,}999{,}999$ and see where each digit belongs.

Enter a number (up to 9,999,999):

Watch it work

Question: Write down the value of the digit 6 in the number $2{,}603{,}714$ .

Have a go

Q1. What is the value of the digit 5 in $1{,}524{,}300$ ?

Q2. Write $3{,}000{,}000 + 40{,}000 + 200 + 7$ as a single number.

Q3. In $7{,}892{,}156$ , which digit is in the ten thousands column?

Q4. A number has a 4 in the millions column, a 7 in the tens column, and zeros everywhere else. Write the number.