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Counting Blocks and Understanding Place Value

When working with place value blocks, it’s essential to identify each type of block and their respective values:

• Units (ones): These are individual blocks.

• Tens: These are groups of 10 units combined into a single bar.

• Hundreds: These are larger squares, each containing 100 units.

Let’s break down the example provided by Sal Khan:

1. Counting Individual Blocks (Ones)Start by counting the single blocks. In the example, there are nine individual blocks. This represents the ones place: 9.
   

2. Counting Bars (Tens)Next, identify the bars where each bar equals ten blocks. In the example, there are three bars, representing 30 blocks or 3 tens.
   

3. Counting Sheets (Hundreds)Finally, count the large sheets where each sheet is equivalent to 100 blocks. The example shows two sheets, representing 200 blocks or 2 hundreds.
   

When you combine these values, you get the number 239, composed of 2 hundreds, 3 tens, and 9 ones.

Identifying a Number with Given Blocks

To identify which set of blocks represents a specific number (e.g., 923), follow these steps:

1. Count HundredsDetermine the number of large sheets. For 923, you need 9 sheets, representing 900.
   

2. Count TensCount the bars. For 923, you need 2 bars, representing 20.
   

3. Count OnesCount the individual blocks. For 923, you need 3 individual blocks.
   

By placing these counts in the hundreds, tens, and ones places respectively, you confirm that the set with 9 sheets, 2 bars, and 3 individual blocks accurately represents the number 923.

Conclusion

Using place value blocks is an effective way to visualize and understand the composition of numbers up to 1,000. For a more detailed explanation and to practice further, visit Khan Academy's comprehensive video lessons. Enhance your learning with our flashcards and watch your numerical skills grow!