Naming the place, step by step

In 347 the underlined 4 sits in the tens place — and being able to say so is what a column is for.

The question

Which place is the 5 in, in 501?

number:501
number:501
number:501
hundreds
  1. Each column is worth ten times the one to its right. Counting them is what tells you the value; the name on its own is the thing that goes wrong under pressure.
  2. Count in from the right: the 5 sits in the hundreds.
  3. So the answer is the NAME of that column: hundreds.

How it works.

  1. 01

    Each column is worth ten times the one to its right. Counting them is what tells you the value; the name on its own is the thing that goes wrong under pressure.

  2. 02

    Count in from the right: the 5 sits in the hundreds.

  3. 03

    So the answer is the NAME of that column: hundreds.