Powers of Ten Matching

5th Grade MathPlace Value and Decimals4 pages

About this worksheet

A matching worksheet for 5th grade math on powers of ten (Common Core 5.NBT.2). Part 1 pairs exponential expressions, starting at 10¹, with value cards such as 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10,000. Part 2 turns to decimal shifts: students solve expressions like 6.2 × 10² by moving the decimal point, then match each result to a letter bank holding 620, 4.5, 38, 0.74, 5,100 and 93.6, with a column recording the direction and number of shifts. Two written questions close the sheet, asking what the exponent in 10⁴ tells you and why 8 × 10³ ends in exactly three zeros.

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$Powers of Ten Matching: Place Value and Decimals - page 1$

$Powers of Ten Matching: Place Value and Decimals - page 2$

$Powers of Ten Matching: Place Value and Decimals - page 3$

$Powers of Ten Matching: Place Value and Decimals - page 4$

Curriculum objectives covered

5.NBT.2

“Explain patterns in the number of zeros of the product when multiplying a number by powers of 10, and explain patterns in the placement of the decimal point when a decimal is multiplied or divided by a power of 10. Use whole-number exponents to denote powers of 10.”

The entire sheet works this standard: Part 1 links exponents to repeated multiplication, Part 2 tracks decimal point movement against values such as 0.74 and 5,100, and questions 12 and 13 make students state both zero and decimal patterns in words.

What's inside this worksheet

Part 1: Match the Power of Ten

Students draw letters from Column B to Column A, pairing five exponential expressions beginning with 10¹ against expanded values such as 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10,000.

Part 2: Decimal Operations Match-Up

Six expressions get solved by decimal shifts and matched to the letter bank of 620, 4.5, 38, 0.74, 5,100 and 93.6. A middle column records each move, such as Right 2 places for 6.2 × 10².

Part 3: Explain the Pattern

Question 12 asks which direction the decimal point moves when multiplying by 10⁴ and how the exponent says so. Question 13 asks how the exponent in 8 × 10³ predicts the three zeros in 8,000.

Answer key

All eleven matches are listed with their letters and values, and the two written answers spell out the shift-by-the-exponent rule in full sentences.

How teachers use it

Low-stakes practice day

Matching formats lower the stakes because the answers are on the page somewhere. Use it the day after introducing exponents, before asking anyone to generate values cold.

Direction check

The Direction & Shifts column is the tell. A student can match by elimination, but writing Right 2 places for a division problem exposes the confusion instantly.

Sentence-frame writing

For questions 12 and 13, require the word exponent in every answer. The key's model sentences show the standard of explanation to hold them to.

More 5th Grade Math worksheets

Operations with Fractions Measurement and Data Geometry Order of Operations

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