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      Position 3-digit numbers on number lines

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can position 3-digit numbers on number lines.

      Key learning points

      1. Find the previous and next multiple of 10 or 100 to position numbers on a number line.
      2. The halfway steps can be used to help find the 5 or 50 numbers.
      3. Counting in steps of 1, 10 and 100 helps us to position a number on a number line.

      Keywords

      • Represent - Represent means showing something, or standing for something.

      • 3-digit number - A 3-digit number represents a number of hundreds, tens and ones.

      • Position - Position means where something is located.

      Common misconception

      Pupils may make errors using the halfway steps between numbers (e.g. wrongly label 374 as 379).

      Encourage pupils to find and label the halfway steps (e.g. the 5 or the 50s numbers).

      Teacher tip

      Encourage the pupils to look at the steps between numbers and use counting to check theses. Are they counting in ones or tens?

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What number is represented by the arrow on this section of the number line?

      An image in a quiz
      40
      Correct answer: 50
      60

      Q2.
      Which of these are not 3-digit numbers?

      599
      Correct answer: 1,000
      Correct answer: 59
      109

      Q3.
      What number is 10 less than 150?

      Correct Answer: 140, one hundred and forty

      Q4.
      Which number is halfway between 50 and 70?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 60, sixty

      Q5.
      Which of these numbers come between 140 and 160?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct answer: 147
      165
      139
      Correct answer: 154

      Q6.
      What number is Andeep thinking of?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 110, one hundred and ten

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What number is positioned halfway between 400 and 500?

      An image in a quiz
      405
      550
      415
      Correct answer: 450

      Q2.
      What number is the arrow pointing to?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 380

      Q3.
      What number is the arrow pointing to?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 780, seven hundred and eighty

      Q4.
      Match the numbers to the labels on the number line.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer:a,603
      Correct Answer:b,607
      Correct Answer:c,614
      Correct Answer:d,618

      Q5.
      Sofia is thinking of a 10s number that could be represented on this number line. The digits of the number add up to 11. What is the number?

      An image in a quiz
      370
      371
      Correct answer: 380
      363

      Q6.
      Andeep is thinking of a number that could be represented on this number line. The digits of the number add up to 13. What is the number?

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: 553, five hundred and fifty three

      To help you plan your 3 maths lesson on: Position 3-digit numbers on number lines, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...