Reading and writing 3-digit numbers (Up to 1000).

Reading & Writing 3-Digit Numbers (up to 1000)

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Lesson Objectives

  • Understand the place value of hundreds, tens, and ones in 3-digit numbers.
  • Read and write 3-digit numbers in words and digits.
  • Express 3-digit numbers in expanded form (e.g., 345 = 300 + 40 + 5).
  • Compare and order 3-digit numbers up to 1000 using symbols (>, <, =).
  • Apply place value knowledge to solve simple problems involving 3-digit numbers.

Introduction to 3-Digit Numbers

A 3-digit number has three digits: hundreds, tens, and ones. The largest 3-digit number is 999, and the smallest is 100. Understanding 3-digit numbers helps us count, measure, and solve problems in everyday life—from counting money to measuring distance.

Key Concepts for This Lesson
• A 3-digit number has a hundreds place, a tens place, and a ones place.
• Example: 456 has 4 hundreds, 5 tens, and 6 ones.
• Expanded form: 456 = 400 + 50 + 6.
• Word form: 456 = "four hundred fifty-six".
• The number 1000 is the smallest 4-digit number (1 thousand, 0 hundreds, 0 tens, 0 ones).
Key Definitions:
• Digit: A single number symbol (0–9).
• Place Value: The value of a digit based on its position in the number.
• Hundreds: The third digit from the right (e.g., in 456, the 4 is in the hundreds place).
• Tens: The second digit from the right (e.g., in 456, the 5 is in the tens place).
• Ones: The first digit from the right (e.g., in 456, the 6 is in the ones place).

Quick Reference: Place Value Chart

NumberHundredsTensOnesExpanded Form
352352300 + 50 + 2
407407400 + 0 + 7
680680600 + 80 + 0
999999900 + 90 + 9

Scroll sideways on smaller screens to view the full table.

Place Value (Hundreds, Tens, Ones)

Every 3-digit number has three places: hundreds, tens, and ones. The hundreds place tells how many groups of 100, the tens place tells how many groups of 10, and the ones place tells how many individual units.

Step-by-Step: Finding Place Value
1. Write the number and identify each digit from right to left.
2. The first digit (rightmost) is the ones place.
3. The second digit is the tens place.
4. The third digit is the hundreds place.
5. Multiply each digit by its place value and add them to get the number.
Place Value of 3-Digit Numbers 4 Hundreds 5 Tens 6 Ones 456 = 400 + 50 + 6

The number 456 has 4 hundreds, 5 tens, and 6 ones. It is the sum of 400, 50, and 6.

Example 1: Identifying Place Value
Problem: What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 372?

Solution:
Step 1: Write the number: 372.

Step 2: The digits are 3, 7, and 2. The 7 is in the tens place (second from the right).

Step 3: The value of 7 in the tens place is 7 × 10 = 70.

Answer: The value of 7 is 70.
Example 2: Building a Number
Problem: What number has 5 hundreds, 3 tens, and 8 ones?

Solution:
Step 1: Write the hundreds digit: 5.

Step 2: Write the tens digit: 3.

Step 3: Write the ones digit: 8.

Step 4: Combine: 538.

Answer: The number is 538.
Watch Out!
Remember that the value of a digit depends on its position. The digit 3 in 356 has a value of 300, while in 536 it has a value of 30.

Practice for Place Value

  1. What is the value of the digit 6 in 368?
  2. What number has 7 hundreds, 0 tens, and 4 ones?
  3. In the number 805, what digit is in the tens place?
  4. What is the value of the digit 9 in 590?
  5. Write the number with 2 hundreds, 8 tens, and 5 ones.

Reading Numbers in Words

To read a 3-digit number in words, say the hundreds digit, then "hundred", then the remaining two-digit number (tens and ones). If the tens digit is zero, just say the ones digit after "hundred".

Step-by-Step: Reading a 3-Digit Number
1. Read the hundreds digit and say "hundred".
2. If the tens digit is not zero, read the two-digit number formed by the tens and ones digits.
3. If the tens digit is zero, read the ones digit (e.g., 305 = "three hundred five").
4. For numbers ending in 00, just say the hundreds (e.g., 400 = "four hundred").
Example 3: Reading Numbers in Words
Problem: Write the following numbers in words: 482, 507, 630.

Solution:
Step 1: 482 = four hundred eighty-two.

Step 2: 507 = five hundred seven.

Step 3: 630 = six hundred thirty.

Answer: 482 = four hundred eighty-two; 507 = five hundred seven; 630 = six hundred thirty.
Example 4: Writing Numbers from Words
Problem: Write the following as numbers: three hundred twenty-five, nine hundred two, seven hundred.

Solution:
Step 1: three hundred twenty-five = 325.

Step 2: nine hundred two = 902.

Step 3: seven hundred = 700.

Answer: 325, 902, 700.
Watch Out!
When reading numbers with zero in the tens place, do not say "and" (e.g., 507 is "five hundred seven", not "five hundred and seven").

Practice for Reading Numbers in Words

  1. Write 215 in words.
  2. Write 890 in words.
  3. Write 704 in words.
  4. Write "six hundred forty-three" as a number.
  5. Write "nine hundred five" as a number.

Writing Numbers in Expanded Form

Expanded form shows the value of each digit in a number. For a 3-digit number, it is the sum of the hundreds, tens, and ones values.

Step-by-Step: Writing in Expanded Form
1. Identify the hundreds digit and multiply it by 100.
2. Identify the tens digit and multiply it by 10.
3. Identify the ones digit.
4. Write the sum of these three values.
Example 5: Expanded Form
Problem: Write 836 in expanded form.

Solution:
Step 1: Hundreds digit is 8 → 8 × 100 = 800.

Step 2: Tens digit is 3 → 3 × 10 = 30.

Step 3: Ones digit is 6 → 6.

Step 4: Sum: 800 + 30 + 6.

Answer: 836 = 800 + 30 + 6.
Example 6: Reversing Expanded Form
Problem: What number is 200 + 40 + 9?

Solution:
Step 1: 200 = 2 hundreds, 40 = 4 tens, 9 = 9 ones.

Step 2: Combine: 2 hundreds, 4 tens, 9 ones = 249.

Answer: The number is 249.
Watch Out!
Make sure to include zeros in expanded form if a digit is zero. For example, 405 = 400 + 0 + 5 (not 400 + 5).

Practice for Expanded Form

  1. Write 562 in expanded form.
  2. Write 708 in expanded form.
  3. Write 910 in expanded form.
  4. What number is 300 + 20 + 7?
  5. What number is 600 + 0 + 4?

Comparing & Ordering Numbers

To compare 3-digit numbers, compare the hundreds digits first. If they are equal, compare the tens digits, then the ones digits. Use symbols: > (greater than), < (less than), = (equal to).

Step-by-Step: Comparing Numbers
1. Compare the hundreds digits. The larger hundreds digit means the number is larger.
2. If the hundreds digits are equal, compare the tens digits.
3. If the tens digits are also equal, compare the ones digits.
4. Use <, >, or = to show the relationship.
Example 7: Comparing Numbers
Problem: Compare 453 and 471.

Solution:
Step 1: Both have 4 in the hundreds place.

Step 2: Compare tens: 5 vs 7. 5 is less than 7, so 453 < 471.

Answer: 453 < 471.
Example 8: Ordering Numbers
Problem: Order these numbers from least to greatest: 389, 392, 380, 400.

Solution:
Step 1: Compare hundreds: 3 vs 4. 400 is the largest.

Step 2: For numbers in the 300s, compare tens: 8, 9, 8. So 380 < 389 < 392.

Step 3: Order: 380, 389, 392, 400.

Answer: 380, 389, 392, 400.
Watch Out!
When comparing numbers, always start with the highest place value. Do not compare ones digits first!

Practice for Comparing & Ordering

  1. Compare: 612 ☐ 621 (use >, <, or =)
  2. Compare: 704 ☐ 740
  3. Compare: 888 ☐ 878
  4. Order these from greatest to least: 350, 305, 530, 503.
  5. Order these from least to greatest: 917, 971, 719, 179.

Cumulative Practice Exercises

  1. What is the value of the digit 9 in 392?
  2. Write 846 in words.
  3. Write 720 in expanded form.
  4. Compare: 654 ☐ 645 (use >, <, or =)
  5. Order these numbers from least to greatest: 230, 203, 302, 320.
  6. What number is 500 + 80 + 3?
  7. Write "seven hundred sixty-two" as a number.
  8. What is the value of the digit 4 in 478?
  9. Write 901 in expanded form.
  10. Compare: 830 ☐ 803 (use >, <, or =)
  11. Order these from greatest to least: 555, 505, 550, 500.
  12. What number has 6 hundreds, 3 tens, and 0 ones?
Show/Hide Answers

Solutions to Cumulative Exercises

  1. Step 1: In 392, the 9 is in the tens place.
    Answer: 90.
  2. Step 1: 846 = eight hundred forty-six.
    Answer: eight hundred forty-six.
  3. Step 1: 7 hundreds = 700, 2 tens = 20, 0 ones = 0.
    Answer: 700 + 20 + 0.
  4. Step 1: 654 vs 645: hundreds same (6), compare tens: 5 vs 4. 654 > 645.
    Answer: 654 > 645.
  5. Step 1: All in the 200s and 300s. Order: 203, 230, 302, 320.
    Answer: 203, 230, 302, 320.
  6. Step 1: 500 = 5 hundreds, 80 = 8 tens, 3 = 3 ones.
    Answer: 583.
  7. Step 1: seven hundred = 700, sixty-two = 62.
    Answer: 762.
  8. Step 1: In 478, the 4 is in the hundreds place.
    Answer: 400.
  9. Step 1: 9 hundreds = 900, 0 tens = 0, 1 one = 1.
    Answer: 900 + 0 + 1.
  10. Step 1: 830 vs 803: hundreds same (8), compare tens: 3 vs 0. 830 > 803.
    Answer: 830 > 803.
  11. Step 1: All in the 500s. Order: 555, 550, 505, 500.
    Answer: 555, 550, 505, 500.
  12. Step 1: 6 hundreds = 600, 3 tens = 30, 0 ones = 0.
    Answer: 630.

Conclusion & Summary

Reading and writing 3-digit numbers is an essential skill for everyday math. By understanding place value, you can read any number up to 1000, write it in expanded form, and compare numbers. These skills will help you with addition, subtraction, and more advanced math topics.

Key Takeaways:
1. Place Value: 3-digit numbers have hundreds, tens, and ones places.
2. Reading: Say the hundreds, then "hundred", then the tens and ones.
3. Expanded Form: 456 = 400 + 50 + 6.
4. Comparing: Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
5. Ordering: Arrange numbers from least to greatest or greatest to least.

Keep practicing with numbers around you—look for 3-digit numbers everywhere!

Video Resource

Watch this video for more examples of reading and writing 3-digit numbers.

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