Place Value: Ones and Tens

Grade 1 · Math · Study Guide

Learn how numbers are made of tens and ones using blocks and pictures.

Every number is made up of parts called place values. When we look at a two-digit number, each digit has a special place that tells us its value.

The ones place is on the right side of a number. It tells us how many single units there are. The tens place is on the left side. It tells us how many groups of ten there are.

For example, the number 34 has 3 in the tens place and 4 in the ones place. That means 3 groups of ten (which equals 30) plus 4 ones equals 34.

We can use base-ten blocks to help us see this. A small cube stands for 1 one. A long rod made of 10 cubes stands for 1 ten. If you have 2 rods and 5 cubes, you have the number 25.

Knowing place value helps us count bigger numbers, compare numbers, and add and subtract. Practice by looking at numbers and asking yourself: how many tens? How many ones?

Key terms

ones place: The place in a number that shows how many single units there are (the rightmost digit in a two-digit number)
tens place: The place in a number that shows how many groups of ten there are (the left digit in a two-digit number)
digit: Any of the symbols 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 used to write numbers
base-ten blocks: Math tools that show ones as small cubes and tens as long rods of 10 cubes
place value: The value of a digit based on its position in a number

Flashcards

What is the ones place?: The rightmost digit in a number — it tells how many single units
What is the tens place?: The left digit in a two-digit number — it tells how many groups of ten
How many ones are in 1 ten?: 10 ones make 1 ten
What does 35 mean in tens and ones?: 3 tens and 5 ones
What number has 6 tens and 2 ones?: 62
In 18, how many ones are there?: 8 ones
In 70, how many tens are there?: 7 tens
What do base-ten blocks help us do?: They help us see and understand place value by showing tens as rods and ones as cubes

Questions

In the number 47, which digit is in the tens place?
1. 7
2. 4
3. 74
4. 0
Show answer
Answer: 4
In 47, the digit 4 is in the tens place (left side) and 7 is in the ones place (right side).
What number has 3 tens and 6 ones?
1. 63
2. 36
3. 30
4. 6
Show answer
Answer: 36
3 tens = 30, plus 6 ones = 6, so 30 + 6 = 36.
The number 52 has 5 in the ones place.
Show answer
Answer: False
In 52, the digit 5 is in the tens place and 2 is in the ones place.
The number 29 has 2 tens and ___ ones.
Show answer
Answer: 9
29 has 2 in the tens place and 9 in the ones place.
If you have 4 tens rods and 1 ones cube, what number do you have?
1. 14
2. 41
3. 40
4. 4
Show answer
Answer: 41
4 tens rods = 40, and 1 ones cube = 1, so the number is 41.

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