Understand Multiplying by 10 Using Place Value

Students develop conceptual understanding of why multiplying a one-digit number by 10 shifts the digit one place to the left (e.g., 6 x 10 = 60). They use place value blocks and the idea that '10 groups of 6 ones = 6 tens' to build understanding before applying the pattern.

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Grade 3 · Multiplying by Multiples of 10 · question 1 of 3

0 of 12

12 rungs. A star at the top.

30 × 10 =

How it is taught

0:00 of 3:12

Times 10 moves each digit one place left.

A 0 fills the ones place.

Read it: Times 10 moves a digit left

5 × 10 = 50: the 5 moves from the ones to the tens. 50 × 10 = 500: it moves again, to the hundreds.

Find the digit's place: in 5, the 5 is in the ones.
Times 10: move the digit one place to the left. 5 ones become 5 tens.
Read the new number: 5 tens is 50, so 5 × 10 = 50.

10 ones make 1 ten, and 10 tens make 1 hundred.

So each place is worth 10 times the place to its right.

Moving a digit one place left makes it worth 10 times as much.

To multiply by 10, move each digit one place to the left.

Writing 5 × 10 = 15, adding instead of multiplying.

Times 10 moves the 5 into the tens: 5 tens is 50.

60 × 10 = ___ — 600. The 6 moves one place to the left, so it is worth 10 times as much: 600.

6 × 10 = 60

Today we're going to find out what happens when we multiply a number by ten.

Let's start with six ones. Here are six little blocks.

Multiplying by ten means we make ten groups of six.

Ten groups of six ones is the same as six tens.

Let's use a place value chart. We have a tens column and a ones column.

First, six lives in the ones place. It means six ones.

When we multiply by ten, the six shifts one place to the left.

Now six is in the tens place. It means six tens.

We write a zero in the ones place to hold the spot.

Six tens and zero ones is sixty.

So six times ten is sixty. Multiplying by ten shifts the digit one place to the left!

Grade 3 · Why a digit shifts one place left

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal: 1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now: Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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