Write The Place Value Of The Underlined Digit Example

You stare at the number 7,43 and the worksheet says "write the place value of the underlined digit.In real terms, you know it's in the tens place. But when you write "tens," your teacher marks it wrong. Because of that, " The "4" is underlined. What you were supposed to write was "40.

Sound familiar? Day to day, you're not alone. This is one of those questions that trips up a lot of students — and honestly, even some parents helping with homework. The confusion comes down to one small but important distinction. Let me clear it up for good.

What Does "Write the Place Value of the Underlined Digit" Actually Mean?

Here's the thing — the question is asking for something specific, and the wording matters.

When a number like 8,532 has the 8 underlined, you're not just identifying that the 8 is in the thousands place. You're being asked to figure out what that digit is actually worth — how much value it contributes to the overall number.

So the answer isn't "thousands." The answer is 8,000.

Think of it this way: the place tells you where* the digit sits. The place value* tells you what that position is worth*. And when you multiply the digit by its place value, you get the value of that specific digit in that specific number.

That's the key insight. Hold onto it.

Building Blocks: How Place Value Works

Before we dive into examples, let's make sure we're solid on the basics. In a number, each digit occupies a position, and each position has a name.

Take the number 4,726:

See how it works? On the flip side, the place name tells you what kind*. Day to day, the digit tells you how many* of that place you have. When you put them together — digit × place — you get the value.

When the question says "write the place value of the underlined digit," it's asking you to find that final column: the actual numerical value, not the position name.

Step-by-Step Examples

Let's work through several examples together, starting simple and building up.

Example 1: A Two-Digit Number

Number: 64

The 6 is underlined.

Step 1: Identify the position. The 6 is in the tens place — it's the second digit from the right.

Step 2: Identify the digit. It's 6.

Step 3: Multiply. 6 × 10 = 60.

Answer: 60

You can double-check this. If the 6 represents 60, then the number 64 really means 60 + 4. That checks out.

Example 2: A Three-Digit Number

Number: 851

The 5 is underlined.

Step 1: The 5 is in the tens place. It's the middle digit.

Step 2: The digit is 5.

Step 3: Multiply. 5 × 10 = 50.

Answer: 50

Quick sanity check: 851 = 800 + 50 + 1. The 5 contributes 50. Correct.

Example 3: A Four-Digit Number

Number: 3,729

The 7 is underlined.

Step 1: The 7 is in the hundreds place. Count from the right: ones (9), tens (2), hundreds (7).

Step 2: The digit is 7.

Step 3: Multiply. 7 × 100 = 700.

Answer: 700

Example 4: A Number with Zero

Number: 5,043

The 4 is underlined.

Step 1: The 4 is in the tens place.

Step 2: The digit is 4.

Step 3: Multiply. 4 × 10 = 40.

Continue exploring with our guides on how many miles is 20 minutes drive and quadratic function whose zeros are and.

Answer: 40

Here's something worth noting: even though there's a zero in the hundreds place (making it 5,043 instead of 5,743), the zero doesn't affect the value of the 4. The 4 is still in the tens place, so it's still worth 40.

Example 5: A Larger Number

Number: 27,486

The 7 is underlined.

Step 1: Count from the right. Starting from the far right: ones (6), tens (8), hundreds (4), thousands (7), ten-thousands (2). The 7 is in the thousands place.

Step 2: The digit is 7.

Step 3: Multiply. 7 × 1,000 = 7,000.

Answer: 7,000

Common Mistakes to Watch Out For

Mistake number one — and the one I mentioned at the start — is writing the place name* instead of the value*. If you see a 9 underlined in the number 9,312 and you write "thousands," that's only half the answer. The full answer is 9,000.

Your teacher isn't being picky. The question asks for the place value, and mathematically, that's the number the digit represents.

Another common slip: misidentifying the position when there are zeros involved. In the number 1,004, the underlined 1 is in the thousands place — not the hundreds or tens. On top of that, the two zeros fill those positions. Take your time and count carefully from right to left. Easy to understand, harder to ignore.

And here's one that catches people off guard: looking at a digit like 3 in the number 300, and thinking the answer is 3. The digit is 3, but it's in the hundreds place. The value is 300.

Practical Tips for Getting It Right Every Time

Here's a trick that works really well. When you're trying to find the value of an underlined digit, ask yourself

Tip – Turn the Question Into Two Simple Steps

When you’re faced with an underlined digit, pause and ask yourself two quick questions:

1. What place is the digit in?
   Count from the right‑most digit (the ones place) and label each position: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten‑thousands, and so on. Write down the place name – this is the “address” of the digit.

2. What is the digit’s value at that address?
   Multiply the digit by the value that belongs to its place (1 for ones, 10 for tens, 100 for hundreds, 1 000 for thousands, etc.). The product is the place value you’re looking for. Nothing fancy.

By consistently applying these two questions, you’ll never confuse “thousands” with “thousand” again.

Quick Checklist for Any Number

• Underline the digit you need to evaluate.
• Count positions from right to left: 1 = ones, 10 = tens, 100 = hundreds, 1 000 = thousands, …
• Write the place name (e.g., “hundreds”).
• Multiply the digit by the place’s value (e.g., digit × 100).
• State the answer as a full number (e.g., “450” not just “hundreds”).

Practice It

Try the following on your own, then check your work against the steps above.

Problem: Find the value of the underlined digit in 9 2 4 7.

(Underline the digit you’re asked about; you can pick any one you like.)

Solution (example – underline the 4):

1. The 4 is in the hundreds place (count: 7 = ones, 4 = tens, 2 = hundreds, 9 = thousands).
2. Multiply: 4 × 100 = 400.
   Answer: 400

Repeat with the other digits to reinforce the pattern.

Conclusion

Understanding place value is more than a classroom exercise; it’s the foundation for every arithmetic operation, from simple addition to complex algebraic manipulations. This skill not only boosts accuracy on tests but also sharpens your number sense in everyday situations, from budgeting to interpreting data. By mastering the two‑question trick—identifying the digit’s position and then multiplying by its place’s value—you’ll instantly convert any underlined digit into its true numerical worth. Keep the checklist handy, practice regularly, and you’ll move through place‑value problems with confidence and ease.