Writing a number in base 10 3rd grade math

[kitn]

HI!
My son has math homework and he has to write the number 6897 in base 10. Does anyone know how to do this. I did a google search and asked Dr math and they were only talking about block form. Can anyone please help me. Thanks.

 

[BunsenH]

Base 10 is the standard decimal system. 6897 = 6897

 

[SwedishMeatball]

If it's using the blocks, then I don't know how to show you here. My 3rd grade son has been working on base ten and they learned a shorthand method. So for example instead of drawing ten individual blocks stacked on top of each other for a unit of ten, you just draw a line. The ones unit are represented by a dot.

ETA: 33 would look like:

l l l . . .

 

[BunsenH]

This 50 yo, childless man needs to ask, "What the heck are blocks??"

 

[schmitty]

Bunsen is right. That was like a trick question. The pieces rolls and boxes is a way to teach addition and subtraction to kids.

 

[SwedishMeatball]

This 50 yo, childless man needs to ask, "What the heck are blocks??"

Base Ten Blocks

Teach counting, grouping, place value, numeration, and other base ten concepts with plastic blocks. Cube unit measures 1 cm square. Pieces are available in sets or separately by block type.

A. Cubes (ones value)
B. Rods (tens value)
C. Flats (hundreds value)
D. Block (thousands value)

 

[java]

Ok maybe this?

6897


6x10 with a small 3 8x10with a small 2 up to the right 9x10 with a small 1 and 7x10 with a small 0?

Think of base ten as the simpliest of forms that we use all the time
every number in it's place with it's value
so 6 times 10 to the third is 6000
Make sense?
Just wait until he has to convert it to another number like 9

He has to WRITE the number not convert it to a graph.

 

[RobInBigKC]

Base 10 is the standard decimal system. 6897 = 6897

Bunsen is right. That was like a trick question. The pieces rolls and boxes is a way to teach addition and subtraction to kids.

Bunsen IS right. As a computer programmer, I use Base-2 and Base-16 in my job fairly often (and sometimes even Base-12) but I use Base-10 every single day in dozens of ways.

I'm thinking there must be either more to the instructions than what the OP listed or this is a question whose only purpose is to reinforce with the third grader that Base 10 is what we commonly use. It could also be laying the groundwork for a future assignment where they do some elementary level work with another base number system like Base-16.

-- Rob

 

[RobInBigKC]

Ok maybe this?

6897


6x10 with a small 3 8x10with a small 2 up to the right 9x10 with a small 1 and 7x10 with a small 0?

Think of base ten as the simpliest of forms that we use all the time
every number in it's place with it's value
so 6 times 10 to the third is 6000
Make sense?
Just wait until he has to convert it to another number like 9

He has to WRITE the number not convert it to a graph.

Wow. I'd completely forgotten that 10 to the zero is 1. Ugh! Me brains is slipping away.

-- Rob

 

[mamacatnv]

Wait..............Let me guess Everyday Math?

My DD's school calls the blocks - manipulatives

 

[Vivig]

This can also mean to write it out in the following ways:

6897 = six thousands + eight hundreds + nine tens + seven ones

6897 = 6000 + 800 + 90 + 7

hope this helps

 

[SavvyMom]

Could it be expanded form?
6000 + 800 + 90 + 7.
Or,
6 thousands, 8 hundreds, 9 tens, 7 ones.

What do the instructions actually say? Is there an example? If it's Everyday math, they usually have something to go by.

 

[SavvyMom]

This can also mean to write it out in the following ways:

6897 = six thousands + eight hundreds + nine tens + seven ones

6897 = 6000 + 800 + 90 + 7

hope this helps

Oops, you beat me to the punch Sorry!

 

[maelstrom]

What the heck??? When are they ever going to need to use this? It makes absolutely no sense to me and I'm not that old.

 

[SavvyMom]

Don't ask me! When I went BACK to college I got hit with base ten blocks. I had never seen them before, nor had I ever needed them. It does help some children understand basic math, but back in the day you just had to do it. Period.

 

[Kathi OD]

If DS is in 3rd grade, he is not going to need the 6 X 10 to the third power.

He may need to write it in expanded form, which is

6000 + 800 + 90 + 7

If they are using the block things, he needs 6 of type D (each block worth 1000), 8 of type C (each block worth 100), 9 of type B (each block worth 10) and 7 of type A (each block worth 1).

Now, 6897 is ALREADY written in base 10. Our number system is a base 10 (each place in a number is worth 10 x the place to its right).

This "stuff" is used to explain to children the value of each digit in a number. That because the 6 is 4 places to the left it isn't worth 6, but 6000. That because of its placement the 8 isn't worth 8, but 800 and so on. It is a hard concept for children (and many adults) to grasp, therefore lots of visuals and manipulatives are used.

 

[kitn]

Thank you for all the replies. He was on a spotlight field trip while they went through it in class and they do not have a math book ot take home. I had him read this post and he think he understands it. Thank you so much. I will let you know if he gets it right.

 

[GJM]

So I guess when my DS gets into 3rd. grade next year, I will be looking for LOTS of answers here - because I didn't know what the heck that math is!

So far I can handle 2nd. grade math.