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101 LearnersLast updated on December 15, 2025
Place Value of 48
48 has the digit 4 in the tens place, meaning it represents forty. The digit 8 is in the ones place, representing eight. Changing the position of a digit dramatically alters its value, highlighting the importance of place value.
What is the Place Value of 48?
Numbers follow a fixed positional structure. The digit on the far right is in the ones place, representing single units. Moving left, the next digit is in the tens place.
In the number 48, the 4 occupies the tens spot, which means it is worth forty. The digit itself has not changed, but its position has multiplied its importance, turning a small figure into something larger in value
A digit’s value depends entirely on its position in a number. The digit itself does not change, but the place it occupies can greatly increase or decrease its value within the whole number.
For example, 5 in the ones place is 5, but in the tens place it’s 50.
How to Identify the Place Value of 48?
In the standard number system, place value is determined starting from the rightmost digit. The sequence begins with ones, followed by tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on. Each move to the left increases the value of the place by ten times the place before it.
In 48: The digit 8 is in the ones place – value: 8 × 1 = 8
The digit 4 is in the tens place – value: 4 × 10 = 40
No other digits are present, so the number is fully expressed as forty-eight.
Step-by-Step Process for Determining the Place Value of a Digit
Write the number so that all digits are clearly visible. Begin counting positions from the rightmost digit, naming them in order: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on.
Identify the specific digit whose place value is required. Determine the value of that place according to its position in the sequence. Multiply the digit by the place value to find its exact worth.
State the complete value, for example: “4 in the tens place = 40.”
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Tips and Tricks to Master Place Value
Have you ever tried remembering something by sticking a post-it to your forehead? Place value sticks the same way, as in, it works when you anchor it in your senses and real life. Let’s load your math toolbox with ideas you can actually use:
Draw a place value chart by writing the headings “Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands” across the top. Drop numbers in like puzzle pieces.
Break numbers into parts — For example, 48 becomes 40 + 8, which makes it easier to see. It’s going to be less overwhelming that way.
Spot them in real life — Find the tens place in street numbers, odometers, or price tags. Point out the tens spot.
Say it aloud – For instance, “The 4 in 48 is forty.” Speaking it helps it stick.
Turn it into a game – Pull random digits from a jar and arrange them into numbers, just to hunt for the tens place.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in Place Value 48
Even the most careful learners can commit common mistakes when working with numbers. A tiny slip, such as miscounting a place, can completely change the value of a number like forty-eight. Let’s look at the mistakes that happen most often, and how to sidestep them with ease.
Mistake 1
Confusing tens with hundreds.
It’s easy to lose count or slip up when the values of numbers start getting higher, but the trick is surprisingly easy to adapt. Begin with the ones place on the right and count across, one step at a time, until you land exactly where you need to be. The more you practice it, the more natural it will feel, almost like counting steps as you walk to a familiar spot in your neighborhood.
Mistake 2
Overlooking the order of digits.
It’s easy to overlook the importance of order since each digit contributes to the total value. If you rearrange digits, the value changes. It’s like rearranging books on a shelf; the order matters for understanding the sequence.
Mistake 3
Mixing up which digit goes in which place.
Slow down and let your eyes travel across the digits. Start repeating the names of the places quietly to yourself, ones, tens, hundreds, until you land on the right one. A few seconds of careful reading can save you from a futile mistake.
Mistake 4
Stopping after finding the digit’s place.
Knowing which place the digit is in is only half the journey. The real value comes when you multiply it by what that place is worth. A 4 in the tens place isn’t just a four… it’s forty. That small step changes everything.
Mistake 5
Overthinking an easy concept until it feels confusing
Numbers are easier to understand when you split them into parts you can work with. Tackle one part at a time and piece them back together. Place value works best when it’s understood in small, clear bites, not as one giant chunk that leaves you feeling lost.
Solved Examples on Place Value, 48
Problem 1
Whatโs the place value of 7 in 72?
It’s in the tens place → 7 × 10 = 70.
Explanation
In 72, the 7 is in the tens place, which is the leftmost digit. That position carries weight — each digit here is worth ten times more than the ones place. So this isn’t just a seven, it’s enough to make seventy all on its own.
Problem 2
Find the place value of 5 in 85.
Digit 5 sits in the ones place → 5 × 1 = 5.
Explanation
If you read the number carefully, the 5 is sitting in the ones spot. That means it’s worth five single units, which is simply five. The place it sits does not increase its value but simply states it as a whole.
Problem 3
In 120, whatโs the place value of 2?
That’s the tens spot → 2 × 10 = 20.
Explanation
Here, the 2 is parked in the second position from the right. That’s the tens place, so it stands for two groups of ten — giving us a total of twenty.
Problem 4
Whatโs the place value of 3 in 34?
Tens place → 3 × 10 = 30.
Explanation
This time, the 3 sits at the start of the number. Being in that tens position means it’s worth thirty, not just three. One position makes all the difference.
Problem 5
In 87, whatโs the place value of 8?
Tens place → 8 × 10 = 80.
Explanation
In this number, the 8 comes before the 7. Its spot is the tens position, so it represents eighty in total. That’s the power of where a digit is placed.
FAQs on Place Value, 48
1.Is 48 the same as forty-eight?
2.Can a decimal have a "tens" place?
3.Can a number smaller than 10 have a tens place?
4.Why should one count from the right instead of the left?
5.What is the place value of 4 in 48?
Important Glossaries for Place Value, 48
- Place Value – The value a digit has based on where it is in a number.
- Digit – A numerical symbol used to represent numbers; in 48, both 4 and 8 are digits.
- Ones Place – The rightmost digit position, representing single units.
- Tens Place – The second digit position from the right, representing groups of ten.
- Number System – A writing system for expressing numbers, typically using a consistent set of symbols.
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Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana
About the Author
Hiralee Lalitkumar Makwana has almost two years of teaching experience. She is a number ninja as she loves numbers. Her interest in numbers can be seen in the way she cracks math puzzles and hidden patterns.
Fun Fact
: She loves to read number jokes and games.
