Lesson 1 Introduction 5.NBT.A.

Understand Place Value

Think It Through

How is place value related to the number 10?

We use a number system called base ten. This means that place value in any number is
based on a pattern of tens.
Look at the following place-value models for whole numbers.

Thousands Hundreds Tens Ones

1 thousand is 10 times 1 hundred is 1 ten is 10 times
1 one
1 hundred 10 times 1 ten 1 one

1,000 1 100 1 10 1 1 5 1,111

Think  Place value in decimals is just like place value in whole numbers.
Look at the following place-value models for decimal numbers.
Ones Tenths Hundredths
1 whole is 1 tenth is 10 times
1 hundredth
10 times 1 tenth 1 hundredth

1 1 0.1 1 0.01 5 1.11

In a decimal number, a digit in one place has ten times the value Circle all of the
it would have in the place to its right. numbers in the
310 310 310 310 310 equation below
     the chart.
thousands hundreds tens ones tenths hundredths

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Think  1 hundredth is 10 times 1 thousandth.

If you break one hundredth into 10 equal parts, each part is 
1 thousandth of the whole.

Look at the pattern in the chart.

When you multiply a
1      0.001 number by 10, the
310
10  ​ 
3​ ··
     0.01
1 310 product is 10 times the
10  ​ 
3​ ··
     0.1 number.
1 310
10  ​ 
3​ ··
     1
1 310
10  ​ 
3​ ··
    10
1 310
10  ​ 
3​ ··
   100
1
10  ​ 
3​ ·· 310
  1,000
1
10  ​ 
3​ ·· 10,000
310
 

When the digit 1 moves one place to the left, its value is 10 times what it was.
When the digit 1 moves one place to the right, its value is ​  1  ​ what it was.
··
10
Look more closely at the first two numbers in the chart.

• One hundredth is 10 times one thousandth.

0.01 5 10 3 0.001

• One thousandth is one tenth of one hundredth.

0.001 5 0.01 4 10

To write the fraction one thousandth as a decimal, write a zero in the tenths and
hundredths places and a 1 in the thousandths place to the right of the decimal point.
​  1   ​  
5 0.001
·····
1,000

Reflect
1 In which number does the digit 5 have a greater value, 0.05 or 0.005? How many
times as great is the value? Explain how you know.

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Lesson 1 Guided Instruction

Think About Place-Value Patterns

Let’s Explore the Idea  Let’s explore place-value patterns

with another example using models. Each grid represents 1 whole.

A     B     C

                   

2 Label models A, B, and C with a decimal to name the amount shaded.

3 The shaded region of Model B is how many times the shaded region of Model A?

                  
The shaded region of Model C is how many times the shaded region of Model B?

                  

4 Use the models above to complete the equations.

0.03 3 10 5       
0.3 3 10 5        
0.3 4 10 5        
3.0 4 10 5        

Now try these two problems.

5 Continue the 3 10 pattern to fill in the blanks.
0.003   0.03   0.3               300

6 Use the 4 10 pattern to fill in the blanks.

500         5   0.5   0.05      

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Let’s Talk About It 
Now let’s explore how 0.30 compares to 0.3.

7 Look at the models in problem 2 and the labels you wrote. Now shade some or all of
the grids in the model below to show 30 hundredths. Each grid represents 1 whole.

Find the model on the previous page that has the same shading as the model you
shaded above. What label did you give that model on the previous page?
                   

8 Use the model you shaded in problem 7 to write a decimal for 30 hundredths.
thirty hundredths 5                   

9 How do both shaded models show that 30 hundredths is the same as 3 tenths?

10 What equation can you write to represent “10 times 3 hundredths is 30 hundredths”?

Try It Another Way

11 Imagine a model shaded to show 0.001. How much would be shaded?

12 How would you shade a model to show ten thousandths?

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Lesson 1 Guided Practice

Connect Ideas About Place-Value Patterns

Talk through these problems as a class, then write your answers below.

13 Create  Shade the models below to show how the value of 0.04 is related to the
value of 0.4. Then write a division equation to represent the relationship.

14 Analyze  Kiran showed 0.08 with the model below.

What is wrong with Kiran’s model? What can be done to her model to show 0.08?

15 Demonstrate  A meter is one thousandth of a kilometer. Write an equation to

show the relationship between 7 meters and 0.007 kilometer.

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Lesson 1 Independent Practice

Apply Ideas About Place-Value Patterns

16 Put It Together  Use what you have learned to complete this task.

A small beetle has a mass of 0.002 kilogram. A bee has a mass of 0.02 kilogram.
A small brick has a mass of 0.2 kilogram.

Part A  Write each measurement in the place-value chart below.

Object Tens Ones . Tenths Hundredths Thousandths

Part B  Shade the models to compare the mass of the bee to the mass of the brick.

Part C  Explain how many small beetles it would take to equal the mass of 1 small
brick. Then write an equation using the measurements to show your answer.

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