Standard, Expanded, and Word Form

Did you know that numbers can wear different "outfits"? In math, we can write the same three-digit number in three different ways: standard form, expanded form, and word form. Learning these forms helps us understand place value—how many hundreds, tens, and ones are in a number.

What is Standard Form?

Standard form is the normal way we write numbers using digits ($0$-$9$).

Example: $437$ This is the standard form. It is the quickest way to write a number!

What is Expanded Form?

Expanded form is like stretching a number out to show the value of each digit. We write the number as an addition problem made up of its hundreds, tens, and ones.

Example: Let's stretch out $437$.

• The $4$ is in the hundreds place, so its value is $400$.
• The $3$ is in the tens place, so its value is $30$.
• The $7$ is in the ones place, so its value is $7$.

In expanded form, $437$ is written as: $400 + 30 + 7$

What is Word Form?

Word form is exactly what it sounds like—writing the number out using letters instead of digits. You write it exactly how you say it out loud.

Example: For the number $437$, we say "four hundred thirty-seven." So, the word form is: four hundred thirty-seven.

Converting Between Forms

Let's practice changing numbers from one form to another!

Example 1: Write $856$ in expanded form.

• Look at the digits: $8$ hundreds, $5$ tens, and $6$ ones.
• Stretch it out: $800 + 50 + 6$

Example 2: Write "three hundred twelve" in standard form.

• Listen to the words: "three hundred" means a $3$ in the hundreds place. "Twelve" is the number $12$ ($1$ ten and $2$ ones).
• Write the digits together: $312$

Example 3: Write $200 + 50 + 9$ in standard form.

• Squash the expanded number back together. $2$ hundreds, $5$ tens, and $9$ ones makes: $259$