The digit 3 in the number 17039 represents the value of 3 in the tens place. The place value system is a way to understand the value of each digit in a number. In this case, each digit in the number 17039 has a specific place value, starting from the rightmost digit, which is the ones place, then the tens place, followed by the hundreds place and so on. In the number 17039, the digit 3 is located in the tens place which represent 3 x 10 = 30. To understand the value of any digit in a number, you can multiply the digit by its corresponding place value.