Number Neighbors to 1000
Every number has neighbors: the number just before it, the number just after it, and the whole tens and hundreds around it. For 347 these are 346 and 348, the tens 340 and 350, and the hundreds 300 and 400.
Numbers before and after
The number before is one less, the number after is one more. Watch the jumps across a ten or a hundred: the number after 399 is 400, and the number before 500 is 499.
__, 456, __
- One less: 456 − 1 = 455.
- One more: 456 + 1 = 457.
Answer: 455 and 457
Neighboring tens and hundreds
For the neighboring tens, look at the tens digit: 347 has 4 tens, so it sits between 340 and 350. For the neighboring hundreds, look at the hundreds digit: 3 hundreds, so it sits between 300 and 400.
Neighboring hundreds of 347
- The hundreds digit is 3.
- The hundred below is 300, the hundred above is 400.
Answer: 300 and 400
Why it matters
Neighbors are the first step to rounding (347 is closer to 350 than to 340) and to mental math: 347 + 3 = 350 is easy once the child sees the next ten.
Examples
__, 456, __
Neighbour hundreds of 347
Practice problems with answers
Solve these problems on paper or out loud, then check the answer key. The online practice and the printable worksheet give a new set every time.
- Neighbour hundreds of 266
- ___, 439, ___
- Neighbour hundreds of 469
- ___, 386, ___
- Neighbour hundreds of 627
- Neighbour hundreds of 462
- ___, 321, ___
- Neighbour hundreds of 545
Show answers
- 200, 300
- 438, 440
- 400, 500
- 385, 387
- 600, 700
- 400, 500
- 320, 322
- 500, 600
Common mistakes
- Getting the crossing wrong: after 299 comes 300.
- Mixing up neighboring tens and the numbers before and after: for 347 the tens are 340 and 350, not 346 and 348.
- For a whole hundred like 300, writing 300 itself as a neighbor. Its neighboring hundreds are 200 and 400.
Questions parents ask
What are number neighbors?
The numbers that come directly before and after a number. In grade 3 the word is also used for the whole tens or hundreds on either side.
How is this different from rounding?
Neighbors give both sides; rounding picks the closer one. 347 has the neighboring tens 340 and 350 and rounds to 350.