What does partitioning mean in maths?

Partitioning means splitting a number into its parts, usually hundreds, tens and units. So 342 becomes 300, 40 and 2. It helps a child see how numbers are built, which makes adding and subtracting easier.

How do I teach place value at home?

Start with real objects your child can group into tens and ones, then move to writing the numbers down. Ask what each digit is worth. In 56, the 5 is worth fifty, not five. Keep the numbers small at first, then build up.

Why is partitioning useful?

It makes bigger sums less daunting. Once a child can break a number into hundreds, tens and units, they can work on each part on its own, then put it back together. It is the thinking behind most written methods.

Free Maths Worksheet - Partitioning Numbers (Hundreds, Tens and Units)

Maths and English worksheets for your child's year group, made by Sunita, an experienced UK primary school teacher. Print them at home and sit together for ten minutes.

Start your free trial See plans

Free trial, no card

Every Year 2 maths worksheet, mapped to the curriculum

Sign up free, pick your child's year group and print 3 worksheets this week. Made by a UK primary school teacher, yours to use at the kitchen table.

✓Made by an experienced UK primary school teacher
✓Mapped to the national curriculum, Reception to Year 6
✓Print at home and work on paper, no screen needed

See all Year 2 worksheets See plans

No card needed. One teacher, every worksheet.

Start your free trial

It takes a minute. No card, no password.

Already have an account? Sign in

Home Advice and tips

Advice and Tips Type Maths Free Teaching Resources Subject Maths Age 7 to 11 Years Old Key Stages Key Stage 2 Maths & English Worksheets

What is Partitioning Numbers?

Teaching children to partition numbers is part of the Maths Primary National Curriculum.
KS1 and KS2 children who can partition numbers will be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide numbers more easily. They will be able to work out maths problems using mental methods and written methods.

Partitioning a number is a concept commonly taught to children in schools to help them understand how a number can be broken down into smaller parts or components. This concept is fundamental for developing number sense and arithmetic skills.

Partitioning a number basically means splitting it up, so that the value of each digit is identified. It helps children understand place value, particularly useful when they begin to use larger numbers.

Partitioning a number involves looking at each digit in the number e.g. is it in the units, tens, hundreds, thousands column etc. This can be explained to children using an abacus, cubes (e.g. tens sticks) or by an using addition sum.

How To Partition A Number

Here are some examples of how numbers can be partitioned:

31 = 30 + 1
45 = 40 + 5
106 = 100 + 6
325 = 300 + 20 + 5
4367 = 4000 + 300 + 60 + 7
6.9 = 6 + 0.9

As you can see from above, each value of each digit is identified.

Partitioning Example

Imagine you have a number, let's say 15. To partition this number means to break it down into smaller parts or components. Children typically learn different ways to express a number by adding or combining smaller numbers.

For example, to partition 15:

Basic Addition:
- 15 can be partitioned into 10 + 5.
- So, instead of thinking about 15 as one whole, you can think of it as 10 plus 5.
Place Value Partitioning:
- 15 can also be partitioned into 10 + 5 by recognising the place value. The "1" in 15 represents 10, and the "5" represents 5 units.
Number Bonds:
- Another way to partition 15 is by using number bonds. In this case, you might think of 15 as the sum of 10 and 5 or 8 and 7, for example.

Once children are familiar with the idea that each digit in a number has a particular value, that understanding can then be built on. As children develop their maths skills, they can use the concept of partitioning numbers to add, subtract, multiply and divide larger numbers. This is then built on further to help children develop their maths skills using more formal, written methods of adding etc.

It's a way of breaking down a number into smaller, more manageable parts to make mathematical thinking and problem-solving easier and more accessible.

Free Maths Worksheets - Partitioning Numbers

Click on the download link at the bottom of this page for a free Teach My Kids maths partitioning numbers worksheet.

This worksheet can be used by children to practise and reinforce partitioning three digit numbers.
It includes partitioning and finding the value of:

hundreds, tens and units

Want More Maths and English Worksheets? Need extra homework Help?

Join Teach My Kids for targeted Maths Worksheets for Primary School Children

Browse Maths and English Worksheets for your child's year group

You Might Also Like To Read:

Place Value Cards for making numbers and partitioning

How To Add And Subtract - KS1/KS2 Quick Guide, Methods Used In Primary Schools

How Do They Teach Addition At School? (F2 / Yr 1)

Maths - Number Bonds to 10 Worksheet

How To Get Children To Learn, Without Lifting A Finger!

Teach KS2 Children Division - What Is The ‘Chunking’ Method?

How Many More? KS1 Maths, Counting On Worksheet

Buy TMKed Maths Workbooks for Children Aged 4-11 Years Old Aimed at helping children develop and focus on particular skills in Maths.

Download Partitioning Numbers (Hundreds, Tens and Units) Worksheet

Shopify

Shopify is the ultimate e-commerce platform, helping individuals and businesses to effortlessly create stunning online stores and sell products worldwide. Shopify makes managing sales, payments, and shipping a breeze.

Baketivity

Baking kits to get kids offline and having fun!

Simply Guitar

Simply Guitar is the leading app for learning guitar at your own pace with engaging and easy video lessons. The app listens to your playing and offers feedback as you master songs you love, making learning guitar enjoyable and straightforward.

Get Your Guide

GetYourGuide is your go-to platform for booking unforgettable travel experiences.

Finish

Market leader in dishwasher tablets and Number 1 recommended brand for dishwashers

Who makes the worksheets

Sunita

UK primary teacher

Every worksheet on Teach My Kids is made by Sunita, a UK primary school teacher with over ten years in the classroom. She writes each one by hand and maps it to the national curriculum, so what your child practises at home lines up with what they do at school. It's all on paper, not a screen, and takes about ten minutes a day.

Try the classroom free

What you're joining

This is your child's online classroom.

You're not buying a single worksheet. You log in to a space set up for your child, where the full Year 2 library unlocks and everything stays in one place.

The Teach My Kids classroom, set to Year 1 reading, listing worksheets to view, mark as done and download. — The space you log in to. Once you set your child's year, their worksheets are here and ready to print.

1.

Your own space, any time.

A login for your family. No app to install. Open it whenever suits you.
2.

Set to your child's year.

Pick their year group and the right worksheets unlock. Move it up as they grow.
3.

The whole library unlocks.

Every worksheet for their year in maths and English, matched to the school curriculum and sorted by topic. Not one sheet, all of them.
4.

Print what you need, when you need it.

The whole library is open, so you print this week's topics when they come up at school. No daily limit and nothing to ration. Come back as often as you like.
5.

Tick off what's done.

Mark each worksheet as done so you can see what your child has covered.
Ready when you are.

Pick a plan and set your child's year. You can start today.
See plans

Common questions

Questions parents ask

What does partitioning mean in maths?: Partitioning means splitting a number into its parts, usually hundreds, tens and units. So 342 becomes 300, 40 and 2. It helps a child see how numbers are built, which makes adding and subtracting easier.
How do I teach place value at home?: Start with real objects your child can group into tens and ones, then move to writing the numbers down. Ask what each digit is worth. In 56, the 5 is worth fifty, not five. Keep the numbers small at first, then build up.
Why is partitioning useful?: It makes bigger sums less daunting. Once a child can break a number into hundreds, tens and units, they can work on each part on its own, then put it back together. It is the thinking behind most written methods.

From the kitchen table

From parents who already print at home.

Real parents, phonics through to SATs.

"Teach My Kids is a fantastic resource. We use the work sheets to reinforce the Maths and English that our children, James 9 and Katie 8, are learning at school. They are ideal for when we have a spare 10 – 15 minutes, and also give us as parents the opportunity to see how much our kids know!

As and when the work sheets are completed, I log in and tick them as completed, so it’s clear which topics have been covered. I try to do 2 - 4 of worksheets a week and feel that they are of great benefit to both our children.

I would definitely recommend ‘Teach My Kids’, it’s fantastic value for money and if you have any questions or queries these are answered promptly."

Emma Robinson

"I have found the ‘Teach my Kids’ website to be very helpful and informative. The worksheets met my children’s individual needs at a time when I was struggling with ways in which to support them. They were very easy to follow have made a real impact on their confidence in Maths and English.

The website is clear and well thought out and easy for anyone to follow. Any queries are responded to promptly. A great website for parents!"

B. Gidda

"Teach My Kids has all the ingredients of the National Curriculum and above all good lesson planning. Such an excellent tool for parents and children. The worksheets are attractive and easy to read and follow. Excellent lively illustrations. I am impressed by the rewards systems and learning path progress. The learning paths are well constructed and brilliant because all the children in the family can use it. Very useful advice to parents.

I would encouraged parents towards this user friendly and excellent web site."

M. Welton

"Teach my kids is a very valuable website! Great worksheets available that help me and my child on her sometimes confusing learning path. Fabulous helpful and friendly owners, would highly recommend!"

Emma Jones

"I have been with Teach My Kids for a few months and can see an improvement in my daughter. The rewards have helped her stay focused."

M.Miles

"The maths sheets are great. We love them."

Emma C.

"This is a great deal for the price. We print them on Sunday so they are ready for the week. It saves us a lot of stress."

David H.

"These sheets help so much. My husband and I use them a lot to know what our kids should learn. Before we found this site, we did not know how to help with homework. Now it is so easy."

Sarah W.

"My son spells much better now and never complains."

James P.

"I love that there are no screens. It is so nice to see them use a real pencil and paper. They focus much better this way."

Chloe B.

"This is perfect for extra practice at home. His teachers see a big change, so we will keep using it. Ten minutes a day is all it takes to see him get better at maths. I tell all my friends to buy it."

Mark T.

"Having all the sheets in one place saves me hours online."

Laura S.

"We bought the Year 2 pack and love it. The pages are clear and match what they learn in school exactly."

Tom R.

"My daughter counts so much better since we started."

Sophie M.

"The files are very easy to print. I am bad with computers, but this site is simple to use. I just log in, pick a math sheet, and print it. No hard steps at all."

Paul K.

"This is a great site. It really helped my daughter read better, and she is much more brave reading out loud now."

Rachel G.

"Just what we needed. The short tasks keep the kids busy."

Daniel L.

"My wife and I think the yearly plan is worth every penny. It costs less than a tutor and keeps their skills sharp. We use it for both our kids and it works nicely for both of them."

Chris A.

"These sheets helped my son learn his times tables. He is much faster at maths now."

Nicola D.

"The pages are clear and very easy for kids to read."

Andy F.

"This is a great learning site. We use it twice a week for English, and it helps him with his class work a lot."

Helen J.

"I print a few off at work. The kids like doing them after dinner because the work is short and easy. It gives them a lot of pride when they finish a page all by themselves. Best thing I have bought for them."

Simon W.

"A huge help for home school morning lessons."

Lucy E.

"This site works great for our family. The writing sheets have really helped my son form his letters better."

Gareth N.

"Amazing site just renewed my subscription for the second year. This site is well structured and has helped to assure me that the work we do at home co-ordinates and strengthens the work done at school."

Reena Chohan

Putting Your Child's Education First

Free Maths Worksheet - Partitioning Numbers (Hundreds, Tens and Units)