Base ten block

Base ten blocks are a tool to help students learn concepts in mathematics such as arithmetic and place value.Van de Walle, John (2008). Elementary and Middle School Mathematics: Teaching Developmentally, p. 191. Pearson Education Inc. USA. 

They are also known as multibase arithmetic blocks (MABs) or Dienes blocks after the Hungarian mathematician Zoltán Pál Dienes, who told others about using them. Originally they were recommended for several several number bases (two, three, etc.) but today only the base ten blocks are in widespread use.  

Base ten blocks were first described by Catherine Stern in 1949, (Revised edition, 1971, with Margaret Stern.)

 Use 
These blocks come in four different sizes and represent different values.

 Units represent ones
 Rods represent tens
 Flats represent hundreds
 Cubes represent thousands

Different sizes are used to make up a number. For example, 593 is made up of 5 flats (500), 9 rods (90), and 3 units (3). Addition and subtraction can be learned by adding or taking away blocks.

References

Category:Mathematics