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Maths Adventures

Dragon maths quest: place value

A story-led junior maths adventure using hoards, scales and fiery puzzles to decode big numbers by hundreds, tens and ones.

Quick answer

Place value helps us understand that the position of a digit in a number tells us how much it’s worth. When we have a number like 347, the 3 stands for 300, the 4 stands for 40, and the 7 stands for 7 ones.

Learning outcome

By the end of this page, you will understand how the position of each digit in a number changes its value, and you will be able to break down numbers into hundreds, tens, and ones. Success signs:
  • You can identify how many hundreds, tens, and ones are in any 3-digit number.
  • You can write numbers in expanded form (like 347 = 300 + 40 + 7).
  • You can compare numbers using the value of each digit.
  • You can solve simple puzzles involving place value.

Why this matters

Understanding place value is like having a secret code that helps you read and write big numbers. It’s the foundation for adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing bigger numbers. Whether you’re counting treasure in a dragon’s hoard, measuring how far you’ve walked, or sharing cookies equally, place value helps you make sense of numbers. In games like Dragon Quest, you might see a dragon with 532 gold coins. Knowing that the 5 means 500, the 3 means 30, and the 2 means 2 helps you quickly understand how much treasure there is.

How it works

Every digit in a number has a special job based on where it sits. We can think of place value like a row of boxes, from right to left:
  1. The ones box is the rightmost box.
  2. The tens box is the one to the left of the ones.
  3. The hundreds box is the one to the left of the tens.
We can write numbers in a place value chart to help us see how much each digit is worth.

Examples you can see

Let’s look at the number 426.
  • The 6 is in the ones column, so it’s worth 6.
  • The 2 is in the tens column, so it’s worth 20.
  • The 4 is in the hundreds column, so it’s worth 400.
We can write this number in expanded form: 426 = 400 + 20 + 6 Here’s another example with the number 109:
  • The 9 is in the ones column, so it’s worth 9.
  • The 0 is in the tens column, so it’s worth 0.
  • The 1 is in the hundreds column, so it’s worth 100.
Expanded form: 109 = 100 + 0 + 9 We can use physical objects to help understand place value. Try this:
  • Use 100 blocks to represent hundreds.
  • Use 10 sticks to represent tens.
  • Use small cubes to represent ones.
If you have 2 hundreds, 3 tens, and 5 ones, you have the number 235.

Try it as a mini adventure

Dragon Maths Quest: The Hoard Puzzle You are a brave adventurer who has found a dragon’s treasure chest. Inside, there are coins, gems, and jewels. But the chest is locked with a puzzle. You must solve it to open it. The dragon has left a note: “Count the treasure in hundreds, tens, and ones. Then, write the number in expanded form. Only then will the chest open.” You found:
  • 5 hundreds
  • 2 tens
  • 7 ones
What number is this? What is the expanded form? Answer: The number is 527. The expanded form is 500 + 20 + 7. Let’s try another one:
  • 3 hundreds
  • 0 tens
  • 9 ones
Answer: The number is 309. The expanded form is 300 + 0 + 9. Now you can open the chest! You’ve learned how to read and write numbers using place value.

Common mistakes

  • Mistake: Thinking 400 + 30 + 2 = 432 instead of 432. Why it happens: Confusing the order of the digits or not understanding how each position adds value. Fix: Use a place value chart to write each digit in the right column.
  • Mistake: Saying 200 + 50 + 8 = 258, but writing it as 2508. Why it happens: Not understanding that the tens and hundreds are separate groups. Fix: Break down the number step by step and use visual aids like blocks or drawings.
  • Mistake: Forgetting that 0 in the tens place still means zero tens. Why it happens: Not understanding that 0 stands for nothing in that place. Fix: Practice with numbers like 105 and 203 to see how 0 affects the value.

Parent and carer guide

This is a key concept for children to understand early in their maths journey. Here’s how you can help:
  • Use everyday objects like coins, beads, or blocks to show how hundreds, tens, and ones work.
  • Play a game where you write a number and ask your child to build it with base-10 blocks or draw it in a place value chart.
  • Ask questions like, “How many hundreds are in 456?” or “What is 300 + 40 + 7?”
  • Don’t worry if your child makes mistakes – they’re part of learning!
  • Encourage your child to explain how they know a number is worth a certain amount.

Practice questions

  1. What is the value of the digit 5 in 532?
  2. Write 704 in expanded form.
  3. Which number is larger: 345 or 354? Explain how you know.
  4. Break down the number 108 into hundreds, tens, and ones.
  5. Write 600 + 30 + 9 in standard form.
Answers:
  1. The digit 5 is in the hundreds place, so it’s worth 500.
  2. 704 = 700 + 0 + 4
  3. 354 is larger because the tens digit (5) is greater than 4.
  4. 108 = 100 + 0 + 8
  5. 600 + 30 + 9 = 639

FAQ

What is place value?

Place value is how we use the position of a digit in a number to show how much it’s worth. For example, in 345, the 3 is in the hundreds place, so it means 300.

Why is place value important?

Place value helps us read, write, and compare numbers. It’s the foundation for all arithmetic operations like addition and subtraction.

How do I teach place value to a young child?

Use hands-on materials like base-10 blocks, drawings, or counting objects. Let them build numbers and see how changing the position changes the value.

What comes after hundreds in place value?

After hundreds come thousands, then ten thousands, hundred thousands, and so on.

Can I use place value with decimals?

Yes! In decimals, the place value continues to the right of the decimal point: tenths, hundredths, thousandths, and so on.