Step-by-step Maths Level 3: Numbers to 1000: counting, place value and comparing
Part of the Step-by-step Maths Level 3 level 3 check chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Numbers to 1000: counting, place value and comparing
This section mixes the skills from chapters 1 to 3. Read each question, then write the answer.
Count in steps when the question gives you a pattern. Split a number into hundreds, tens and ones when you need to.
Key ideas
- Count in steps of the same size.
- Hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds first.
Method. Start at the number and count on or back, one number at a time.
- Start at 468. We begin with this number.468
- Count on 7. Say each new number as we go.468 + 7 = 475
- Write the answer. This is the last number we reached.475
Check. Count back 7 from 475: you reach 468.
Watch out. Start from the number in the question. Do not start again from 1 or from 0.
Method. Put the digits in the place value table, then read each column.
- Write 352 in the place value table. Hundreds, tens and ones each have a column.3 | 5 | 2
- Read each column. The hundreds digit is 3, the tens digit is 5, the ones digit is 2.3 hundreds, 5 tens, 2 ones
- Write the answer. We use the digit in each column.3 hundreds, 5 tens and 2 ones
Check. Put them back: 300 + 50 + 2 = 352.
Watch out. A zero digit still has its column. Write 0 tens if there are no tens.
Method. Put the numbers in order, smallest to largest. Compare hundreds first, then tens, then ones.
- Compare the hundreds of each number. The number with fewer hundreds is smaller.512: 5 hundreds, 409: 4 hundreds, 527: 5 hundreds, 415: 4 hundreds
- Find the first number in the order. It is the smallest, or the largest if we go the other way.409
- Write all the numbers in order. Check each one fits between the ones next to it.409, 415, 512, 527
Check. Read the list again. Each number is bigger than the one before it.
Watch out. Compare hundreds first. 508 is less than 521, because 5 hundreds is the same but 0 tens is less than 2 tens.
Watch out
Watch out. Check the step first. Do not count in ones when the pattern goes up in tens.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to explain how they found the answer, not only to say it.
Exercise 10A Mixed practice: numbers to 1000
Non-calculatorMethod. Count back in tens by adding or taking away 10 each time.
- Start at 960. We count from this number.960
- Take 10 each time. We count back in tens.960 - 10 = 950; 950 - 10 = 940
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.950, 940, 930
Check. Count on in tens from 930 to check. You reach 960.
Watch out. The step is 10. Each new number is 10 less than the last.
Method. Count back in tens by adding or taking away 10 each time.
- Start at 180. We count from this number.180
- Take 10 each time. We count back in tens.180 - 10 = 170; 170 - 10 = 160
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.170, 160, 150
Check. Count on in tens from 150 to check. You reach 180.
Watch out. The step is 10. Each new number is 10 less than the last.
Method. The hundreds digit tells us how many whole hundreds there are.
- Look at the hundreds digit in 543. The hundreds digit tells us how many hundreds.The hundreds digit is 5
- Count the whole hundreds. The tens and ones are not whole hundreds, so we leave them out.543 is 5 hundreds and 43 more
- Write the answer. This is the number of whole hundreds.5
Check. 5 hundreds is 500, which is the start of 543.
Watch out. Count the hundreds digit, not the whole number.
Method. Count back in tens by adding or taking away 10 each time.
- Start at 770. We count from this number.770
- Take 10 each time. We count back in tens.770 - 10 = 760; 760 - 10 = 750
- Write the numbers in order. These are the next numbers we said.760, 750, 740
Check. Count on in tens from 740 to check. You reach 770.
Watch out. The step is 10. Each new number is 10 less than the last.
Method. Find the digit, then multiply it by its place value. A tens digit is worth 10.
- Find the tens digit in 256. The tens digit is in the tens column.tens digit = 5
- Multiply by the place value. Each tens digit stands for 10 at a time in this column.5 x 10 = 50
- Write the answer. This is the value of the digit.50
Check. Check the other digits add to the number: 256 = 206 + 50.
Watch out. The value is the digit times the place. It is not just the digit.
Method. Use the hundreds first, then the tens and ones.
- Find the hundreds word. The number before hundred tells us the hundreds.four hundred = 400
- Find the tens and ones words. Read the words after and.twenty-six = 26
- Add them together. The hundreds and the rest make the number.400 + 26 = 426
- Write the answer. 426
Check. Say it back: 426 is four hundred and twenty-six.
Watch out. Hundreds come first. Write the digits in the right columns: hundreds, tens, ones.
Method. Find the hundreds either side. The nearer one is the answer.
- Find the hundreds either side of 748. These are the two hundreds the number is between.700 and 800
- Find which hundred is nearer. 748 - 700 = 48, and 800 - 748 = 52.48 is less than 52
- Write the nearest hundred. This is the answer.700
Check. 700 is 48 away from 748, and the other hundred is further away.
Watch out. Look at the tens and ones. If they are 50 or more, round up. If less than 50, round down.
Method. Change only the hundreds digit when we go less than the number.
- Start at 563. We begin with this number.563
- Change the hundreds digit. Only the hundreds digit changes. The others stay the same.563 - 100 = 463
- Write the answer. This is the new number.463
Check. 100 more than 463 is 563. It works.
Watch out. Only the hundreds digit changes. Keep the other digits the same.
Method. Find the hundreds either side. The nearer one is the answer.
- Find the hundreds either side of 906. These are the two hundreds the number is between.900 and 1000
- Find which hundred is nearer. 906 - 900 = 6, and 1000 - 906 = 94.6 is less than 94
- Write the nearest hundred. This is the answer.900
Check. 900 is 6 away from 906, and the other hundred is further away.
Watch out. Look at the tens and ones. If they are 50 or more, round up. If less than 50, round down.
Method. Change only the tens digit when we go more than the number.
- Start at 868. We begin with this number.868
- Change the tens digit. Only the tens digit changes. The others stay the same.868 + 10 = 878
- Write the answer. This is the new number.878
Check. 10 less than 878 is 868. It works.
Watch out. Only the tens digit changes. Keep the other digits the same.
Method. Compare the hundreds first. If they are the same, compare the tens. Then compare the ones.
- Start with the hundreds digits. The digit in the largest place decides first.3 and 2
- The hundreds decide. 3 is more than 2 in the hundreds place.3 and 2
- Write the sign. 338 is greater than 237.>
Check. 338 > 237 is true.
Watch out. Compare from the left. 338 is greater than 237.
Method. Change only the ones digit when we go more than the number.
- Start at 458. We begin with this number.458
- Change the ones digit. Only the ones digit changes. The others stay the same.458 + 1 = 459
- Write the answer. This is the new number.459
Check. 1 less than 459 is 458. It works.
Watch out. Only the ones digit changes. Keep the other digits the same.
Method. Find the digit, then multiply it by its place value. A tens digit is worth 10.
- Find the tens digit in 630. The tens digit is in the tens column.tens digit = 3
- Multiply by the place value. Each tens digit stands for 10 at a time in this column.3 x 10 = 30
- Write the answer. This is the value of the digit.30
Check. Check the other digits add to the number: 630 = 600 + 30.
Watch out. The value is the digit times the place. It is not just the digit.
Method. Split the number by its places, then write each part.
- Find the hundreds, tens and ones of 126. Read the place value table.1 hundreds, 2 tens, 6 ones
- Write each part as a number. Each part is the digit times its place value.100 + 20 + 6
- Write the answer. The parts add up to the number.100 + 20 + 6
Check. Add the parts: 100 + 20 + 6 = 126.
Watch out. Leave out a part that is zero. 204 is 200 + 4.
Method. Use the hundreds first, then the tens and ones.
- Say the hundreds in words. Hundreds come first.539 has 5 hundreds: five hundred
- Say the tens and ones in words. Say the number after hundred.thirty-nine
- Join them with "and". British English puts and before the tens and ones.five hundred and thirty-nine
Check. Say it back: 539 is five hundred and thirty-nine.
Watch out. Write hundred and then and before the tens and ones, like three hundred and seven.
Method. Start at the number and count on or back, one number at a time.
- Start at 273. We begin with this number.273
- Count on 13. Say each new number as we go.273 + 13 = 286
- Write the answer. This is the last number we reached.286
Check. Count back 13 from 286: you reach 273.
Watch out. Start from the number in the question. Do not start again from 1 or from 0.