Thousands and place value

Build a thousand from hundreds

Ten hundreds make one thousand. Count in hundreds from 700: 800, 900, 1000, 1100. Count in thousands from 3000: 4000, 5000, 6000. Ten thousands make 10 000, ten thousand.

The number 4058 is four thousand and fifty-eight. It contains four thousands, no hundreds, five tens and eight ones:

The zero holds the hundreds place. Writing 458 instead loses most of the amount.

Read each number aloud. The same nonzero digits can stand for different amounts when their positions change.

When writing a number in words, name the amount in each nonempty place. For 4058, write four thousand and fifty-eight; there is no hundreds part to name. In the numeral, the zero is still needed to hold that place.

Check your understanding 1 Write both representations

Write 7090 in words. Then write seven thousand nine hundred as a numeral. Which place contains nine in each number?

Your number words, numeral and explanation, or work on paper

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7090 is seven thousand and ninety, with nine tens. Seven thousand nine hundred is 7900, with nine hundreds. Keeping the zero in its correct place keeps each numeral matched to its words.

Compare from the greatest place

To order 4075, 4750 and 4057, compare thousands first. All have four. Compare hundreds next: 4750 has seven hundreds and is greatest. Between the other two, both have zero hundreds; seven tens is greater than five tens.

Increasing order is 4057, 4075, 4750. Looking only at the last digit would give a different, incorrect order.

Check your understanding 2 A step across a thousand

The same step is used each time: 2750, 2850, 2950. State the rule and write the next two terms on paper. You can check the first next term here.

Next number

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The next two terms are 3050 and 3150. The pattern adds 100 each time. Ten hundreds are exchanged for a thousand, while the fifty stays unchanged.

Check your understanding 3 Find a number from its parts

A number has three thousands, twelve hundreds and six ones. Write it using the usual place-value notation. Explain the exchange.

Your answer or drawing on paper

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Twelve hundreds are one thousand and two hundreds. With the original three thousands, the total is 3000 + 1200 + 6 = 4206, four thousand two hundred and six. There are no tens, so the tens place needs zero.

Try without the table

Write seven thousand and ninety. Then write the number 100 less and the number 100 more. Read all three aloud to check each place.