3-digit Numbers on an Abacus

We already know about hundreds, tens and ones. Now let us learn how to represent 3-digit numbers on an abacus.

We know, an abacus is a tool or a toy for counting. An abacus which has three rods.

We are learning three digit numbers on an abacus so, this abacus has three rods: the hundreds rod, the tens rod and the ones rod. Each rod can have a maximum of nine beads.

Representing 3-Digit Numbers on the Abacus:

3-digit numbers have digits at 3 places Ones, Tens and Hundreds.

To represent them on an abacus, three spikes named O, T and H are used.

On the ones spike (O), each bead represents 1.

On the tens spike (T), each bead represents 10.

On the hundreds spike (H), each bead represents 100.

The abacus shown above represents the number 123.

For Example:

1. Take the number 270

2 beads on hundreds rod and 7 beads on tens rod and 0 beads on ones rod

Thus, expanded form of 270 = 2 hundreds and 7 tens and 0 one.

The number can be written in words as: two hundred and seventy.

2. Take the number 422

4 beads on hundreds rod and 2 beads on tens rod and 2 beads on ones rod

Thus, expanded form of 422 = 4 hundreds and 2 tens and 2 ones.

The number can be written in words as: four hundred and twenty-two.

3. Take the number 531

5 beads on hundreds rod and 3 beads on tens rod and 1 bead on ones rod

Thus, expanded form of 531 = 5 hundreds and 3 tens and 1 one.

The number can be written in words as: five hundred and thirty-one.

4. Take the number 506.

5 beads on hundreds rod and 0 beads on tens rod and 6 beads on ones rod

Thus, expanded form of 506 = 5 hundreds and 0 tens and 6 ones.

The number can be written in words as: five hundred and six.

USING AN ABACUS TO READ AND WRITE THE NUMBERS

The picture shown here is of an abacus. We may take the help of an abacus to read and write the numerals. This abacus has three spikes (vertical rods).

In each spike, we can put maximum 9 beads.

Three spikes show ones, tens and hundreds respectively. The abacus given on the right has 5 beads in ones place, 8 beads in the tens place and 6 beads in hundreds place. So, it shows the numeral 685.

We read it as six hundred eighty-five.

The place value chart for 685 is as given below:

Questions on 3-digit Numbers on an Abacus:

1. Draw beads on the spikes of the abacus to show the given numbers:

2. Read the numbers shown on the abacus and fill in the placeholders. One has been done for you.

3. Count the beads on the abacus. Write the number and the number name represented by them as shown.

4. Draw beads on the abacus to show the given number name.

(i)

two hundred seventy one

(ii)

six hundred ninety nine

(iii)

three hundred ninety

(iv)

nine hundred fifty-two

5. Fill in the placeholders with the missing digits. One has been done for you.

2nd Grade Math Practice

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