The Difference Between Place Value and Face Value
When it comes to numbers, there are several terms that can be confusing, including place value and face value. While these terms may seem similar, they are actually quite different.
What is Place Value?
Place value refers to the value of a digit in a number based on its position. Each digit in a number has a different place value, and the position of the digit determines its value. For example, in the number 123, the digit 1 has a place value of 100 (because it is in the hundreds place), the digit 2 has a place value of 20 (because it is in the tens place), and the digit 3 has a place value of 3 (because it is in the ones place).
What is Face Value?
Face value, on the other hand, refers to the value of a digit on its own, without considering its position. For example, in the number 123, the face value of the digit 1 is 1, the face value of the digit 2 is 2, and the face value of the digit 3 is 3.
Why is the Difference Important?
Understanding the difference between place value and face value is important for a number of reasons. For one, it is necessary for doing basic math operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. It is also important for understanding numerical concepts like rounding, estimation, and place holder zeros.
Additionally, understanding place value is essential for understanding decimal numbers, which have both whole number and decimal parts that are separated by a decimal point. In decimal numbers, the place value of each digit is determined by its position relative to the decimal point.
In conclusion, while place value and face value may seem similar, they are actually quite different concepts in mathematics. Understanding the difference is important for basic math operations and for understanding numerical concepts like rounding and estimation.
Table difference between place value and face value
| Place Value | Face Value |
|---|---|
| The value of a digit in a number based on its position from the right or left of the decimal point. | The value of a digit as it is written in a number. |
| In the number 123, the place value of 1 is 100, the place value of 2 is 10, and the place value of 3 is 1. | In the number 123, the face value of 1 is 1, the face value of 2 is 2, and the face value of 3 is 3. |
| Place value is important when working with decimals and larger numbers. | Face value is important when identifying and counting individual digits in a number. |