What is a power of ten?

It is a number made by multiplying tens together, and the exponent says how many tens: 10^2 is 10 × 10 = 100, and 10^4 is 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10,000. Multiplying by 10^2 shifts every digit two places left, so 3.7 × 10^2 = 370.

How do you divide by a power of ten?

Shift the digits right, one place for each ten in the exponent: 5,600 ÷ 10^2 = 56, and 4.2 ÷ 10 = 0.42. Have your child check that the answer got smaller, because dividing by 10 or more always makes a positive number smaller.

What kinds of problems are on the sheet?

Twelve problems mix evaluating a power of ten with multiplying and dividing whole numbers or decimals by powers of ten.

Why does this matter beyond adding zeros?

Because the real pattern is digits shifting place value, and that's the foundation for multiplying decimals, converting metric units, and scientific notation. 'Add zeros' breaks the moment a decimal point shows up.

5th grade powers of 10

5th grade powers of 10 worksheets

Fifth grade powers of 10 worksheets practice the powers of ten. Your child evaluates a power like 10^3, then multiplies and divides whole numbers and decimals by one. The exponent tells how many places the digits shift, and the operation tells the direction.

Free printable PDF worksheet, aligned to Common Core 5.NBT.A.2.

Each print is a different sheet with its own answer key. You don't need to sign up.

The kind of problems you'll get

Evaluate each expression.

10^2
Answer: 100
76 × 100
Answer: 7600
17 × 10
Answer: 170

Every print pulls a fresh set of problems at this level, so a make-up test or a second sibling never gets the same sheet.

What's on a 5th grade sheet

The sample sheet above has 12 problems. Its answers run from 0.079 to 100,000.

Powers of ten. Evaluate each expression. 12 problems per page.

Every version prints on US Letter or A4, with its answer key after the problems.

How to teach this

Build the table together first: 10^1 = 10, 10^2 = 100, 10^3 = 1000, and have your child say what the exponent matches: the number of zeros, the number of place-value shifts. Phrase every answer as a shift ("45 slides two places left") rather than "add two zeros," so the rule still works when decimals arrive. Ask the reverse question too: how many tens multiply to make 10,000?

Watch for: Kids multiply the base by the exponent and write 30 for 10^3. The exponent counts how many tens to multiply, so 10^3 = 1000. Kids learn 'just add zeros.' It works for whole numbers, but the honest rule is that digits shift left, which is the version that survives decimals.

Common questions about 5th grade powers of 10

What is a power of ten?: It is a number made by multiplying tens together, and the exponent says how many tens: 10^2 is 10 × 10 = 100, and 10^4 is 10 × 10 × 10 × 10 = 10,000. Multiplying by 10^2 shifts every digit two places left, so 3.7 × 10^2 = 370.
How do you divide by a power of ten?: Shift the digits right, one place for each ten in the exponent: 5,600 ÷ 10^2 = 56, and 4.2 ÷ 10 = 0.42. Have your child check that the answer got smaller, because dividing by 10 or more always makes a positive number smaller.
What kinds of problems are on the sheet?: Twelve problems mix evaluating a power of ten with multiplying and dividing whole numbers or decimals by powers of ten.
Why does this matter beyond adding zeros?: Because the real pattern is digits shifting place value, and that's the foundation for multiplying decimals, converting metric units, and scientific notation. 'Add zeros' breaks the moment a decimal point shows up.

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Aligned to Common Core 5.NBT.A.2. Reviewed by the One more sheet team. Content version 241, updated September 2026.

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