Base Ten Counting ..

Humans have ten fingers (eight fingers and two thumbs to be absolutely correct).

One hand counting ...

Two hands counting ...

The "Base Ten" counting system is 'based' on our ten fingers.

With the animation below imagine three people standing in three "places" next to each other. The one in the place on the right starts the counting sequence. When the right 'place' gets to ten, the place in the middle counts "1" to keep track of each full place on the right (ie each ten).

Some of the key points ...

The right "place" has no fingers up. The second place has one finger up. (The little finger.)

The right "place" has no fingers up. The second place has two fingers up.(The little finger and ring finger.)

Try these ...

1. What finger pattern represents 45 Decimal? Click here for the answer   ...

2. What finger pattern represents 30 Decimal? Click here for the answer   ...

3. Work with a partner to draw the finger patterns for the following Decimal numbers:

                    (a) 11     (b) 29     (c) 40      (d) 48    (e) 100     (f) 1001

Have your teacher check your answers when you have finished.