There are three ways to write a number. They all show the same amount. You will need Hundreds, Tens and Ones for this.
| Digits | Words | Expanded form |
|---|---|---|
| 253 | two hundred fifty-three | $200 + 50 + 3$ |
| 406 | four hundred six | $400 + 6$ |
| 690 | six hundred ninety | $600 + 90$ |
Why it works
Expanded form shows what each digit is worth, added together. Words say the hundreds first, then the rest: “four hundred” is 400, and “six” is 6. There are no tens, so the tens place gets a 0 when you write the digits.
Worked example: Words to digits
Write seven hundred eight in digits.
- “Seven hundred” means 7 in the hundreds place.
- “Eight” means 8 ones. No tens are said, so the tens digit is 0.
- The number is 708.
Answer: 708
Worked example: Expanded form in any order
What number is $900 + 4 + 30$?
- 900 is 9 hundreds, 30 is 3 tens and 4 is 4 ones.
- Put each digit in its place: 934.
Answer: 934
Key idea
Digits, words and expanded form are three ways to write the same number. Expanded form adds up what each digit is worth.
Common mistake
Writing “four hundred six” as 4006, by writing 400 and then 6 side by side. 4006 has four digits, so it is in the thousands. Check: a number in the hundreds has exactly three digits.
Grown-up tip: Say a number out loud and let your child write it, then switch roles.