Base-10 blocks show base 10 number values. Which option is the correct representation?

• A. Fraction strips
• B. Bar diagram
• C. Attribute blocks
• D. Base-10 blocks

Answer: (D)

When you want to represent numbers using place value, base-10 blocks are the natural fit because their pieces line up with ones, tens, and hundreds. That direct alignment lets you display base-10 number values clearly. For example, the number 234 would be shown with 2 hundreds (two flat blocks), 3 tens (three bars), and 4 ones (four unit cubes), matching the decimal place values exactly. This setup also makes regrouping intuitive: ten ones can switch to one ten, and ten tens can switch to one hundred.

Other tools serve different purposes. Fraction strips depict fractions, not whole numbers positioned by place value. Bar diagrams show quantities or proportions without inherently illustrating place value. Attribute blocks are used to explore shapes and attributes, not decimal place value.