Unit 1: Number Sense

Topic A: Place Value

Introduction to Place Values

Each place in a number has a value.

Ones

The ones place tells how many ones there are.

3 means 3 ones.

Three small boxes.

9 is the largest amount that we can express (write or say) with one digit.

Tens

The tens place shows how many tens there are. The ones place must have a digit in it before there can be a digit in the tens place.

Every ten is ten ones.

A rectangle divided into 10 pieces to represent one 10.                     10 individual pieces to represent 10 ones.

43 means 4 tens and 3 ones

99 means 9 tens and 9 ones. 99 is the largest amount that we can express (write or say) using only two digits.

Hundreds

The place to the left of the tens place is the hundreds place. It shows how many hundreds there are. A number written using three whole digits has a hundreds place, a tens place, and a ones place.

Every hundred is ten tens – every hundred is the same as one hundred ones.

Every hundred is ten tens – every hundred is the same as one hundred ones.

100                     100                       100

425 means 4 hundreds, 2 tens, and 5 ones.

Thousands

The place to the left of the hundreds place is the thousands place.

One thousand is the same as ten hundreds.

One thousand is the same as one hundred tens.

One thousand is the same as one thousand ones. (You will have to imagine the picture of the one thousand ones!)

Thousands Separator: Use a Space

When we write numerals, a little space is left between the thousands place and the hundreds place. The space makes it easier to read large numerals.

4392     8253     23693

Large numerals used to be written with a comma (,) instead of a space and you may still see numerals like this:

4,392    8,253     23,693

Learn to use the space instead of a comma because that is the preferred style.

Example A

2 212 means 2 thousands, 2 hundreds, 1 ten, and 2 ones

3 064 means 3 thousands, 0 hundreds, 6 tens, and 4 ones

What happens if the 0 is not written to hold the hundreds place? The numerals would then be 364 which stands for the number 3 hundreds, 6 tens, and 4 ones.

364 is not the same as 3 064.

Exercise One

Fill in the blanks to make each sentence true. Draw a sketch if you wish. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. 8261 =         thousands         hundreds         tens         ones
  2. 4005 =        thousands         hundreds         tens         ones
  3. 2931 =         thousands         hundreds         tens         ones
  4. 1034 =         thousands         hundreds         tens         ones
  5. 2608 =         thousands         hundreds         tens         ones
  6. 7543 =         thousands         hundreds         tens         ones
  7. 2900 =         thousands         hundreds         tens         ones

Answers to Exercise One

  1. 8 thousands 2 hundreds 6 tens 1 ones
  2. 4 thousands 0 hundreds 0 tens 5 ones
  3. 2 thousands 9 hundreds 3 tens 1 ones
  4. 1 thousands 0 hundreds 3 tens 4 ones
  5. 2 thousands 6 hundreds 0 tens 8 ones
  6. 7 thousands 5 hundreds 4 tens 3 ones
  7. 2 thousands 9 hundreds 0 tens 0 ones

Ten thousands

The place value to the left of thousands is ten thousands. As you can tell by the name, one ten thousand is ten thousands. You are not going to get a sketch of these large place values because the page isn’t big enough!

Example B

43692 = 4 ten thousands, 3 thousands, 6 hundreds, 9 tens, and 2 ones

43692 can also be thought of as 43 thousands, 6 hundreds, 9 tens, and 2 ones.

Exercise Two

Fill in the blanks. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
80300 8 0 3 0 0
OR 80 3 0 0
  1. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    36981
    OR
  2. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    31205
    OR
  3. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    99999
    OR
  4. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    15002
    OR
  5. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    75125
    OR

Answers to Exercise Two

  1. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    36981 3 6 9 8 1
    OR 36 9 8 1
  2. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    31205 3 1 2 0 5
    OR 31 2 0 5
  3. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    99999 9 9 9 9 9
    OR 99 9 9 9
  4. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    15002 1 5 0 0 2
    OR 15 0 0 2
  5. ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    75125 7 5 1 2 5
    OR 75 1 2 5

Hundred thousands

Have you heard the expression, “They have a 6 figure salary.” That means they earn at least one hundred thousand dollars, which takes six digits to write! The place value to the left of ten thousands is hundred thousands. There is definitely not room on the page for a picture of this place value! Ten ten thousands makes one hundred thousand.

hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
43 467 4 3 2 4 6 7
803214 8 0 3 2 1 4

Millions

And if we look one more place to the left, the place value is millions. One million is 1 with six zeros after it: 1 000 000.

A space is left between the millions place and the hundred thousands place. A space is left between the thousands place and the hundreds place.

  • 2368100
  • 3150213
  • 14263942
  • 5521671

Place values overview

This place value chart may help you to remember the place values.

Place Value Chart. hundred billions. Ten billions. billions. hundred millions. ten millions. millions. hundred thousands. ten thousands. thousands. hundreds. tens. ones.Notice the groups of three digits. Look at the pattern for the three places which is repeated in each place value group – the pattern is hundreds, tens, ones.

Our number system is called a decimal system because it is based on the number ten. Deci is a Latin word that means ten. Starting with ones, the place values are each ten times greater.

[latex]\begin{array}{ll} \text{ones place }=& \phantom{10} \text{ one} \\ \text{tens place }=& 10 \text{ ones} \\ \text{hundreds place }=& 10 \text{ tens} \\ \text{thousands place }=& 10 \text{ hundreds} \\ \text{ten thousands place }=& 10 \text{ thousands} \\ \text{hundred thousands place }=& 10 \text{ ten thousands} \\ \text{millions place }=& 10 \text{ hundred thousands} \\ \text{ten millions place }=& 10 \text{ millions} \\ \text{hundred millions place }=& 10 \text{ ten millions} \\ \end{array}[/latex]

… and so on.

Our number system is very tidy. When you learn to use the metric measurement system, you will see the metric system is based on ten just like the number system.

Exercise Three

Write the place value name for each bolded digit. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. 23206 – the place value for “3” is thousands
  2. 2468 – the place value for “6” is tens
  3. 622 – the place value for “6”
  4. 92002 – the place value for “9”
  5. 92002 – the place value for the first “0”
  6. 14262 – the place value for “6”
  7. 48076 – the place value for “4”
  8. 5555 – the place value for the second “5”
  9. 12245 – the place value for “5”
  10. 92002 – the place value for the second “0”
  11. 12026 – the place value for the first “2”
  12. 6348 – the place value for “6”

Answers to Exercise Three

  1. thousands
  2. tens
  3. hundreds
  4. ten thousands
  5. hundreds
  6. tens
  7. ten thousands
  8. hundreds
  9. ones
  10. tens
  11. thousands
  12. thousands

Exercise Four

Identify the digit for the place value named. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. thousands    416245
  2. tens    363482
  3. ten thousands    36482
  4. hundreds    1456
  5. hundred thousands    206415
  6. thousands    63421
  7. hundreds    74322
  8. hundred thousands    685413
  9. thousands    221300
  10. ten thousands    10000
  11. ones    16394
  12. tens    684

Answers to Exercise Four

  1. 416245 – 6
  2. 363482 – 8
  3. 36482 – 3
  4. 1456 – 4
  5. 206415 – 2
  6. 63421 – 3
  7. 74322 – 3
  8. 685413 – 6
  9. 221300 – 1
  10. 10000 – 1
  11. 16394 – 4
  12. 684 – 8

Reading and Writing Numerals

You know that the digits are 0 1 2 3 4 5  6  7  8  9  and that digits are arranged in different places so we can count larger amounts than our ten fingers!

When we use digits, we call what we write the “numeral.”

  • 328 is a numeral
  • 46 is a numeral
  • 3 is a numeral

We use numerals to represent numbers.

Numerals under 1000

The numerals from 1 to 12 have special words. These are

  • 0    zero
  • 1     one
  • 2    two
  • 3    three
  • 4    four
  • 5    five
  • 6    six
  • 7    seven
  • 8    eight
  • 9    nine
  • 10  ten
  • 11   eleven
  • 12   twelve

The numerals from 13 to 19 are

  • 13    thirteen
  • 14    fourteen
  • 15    fifteen
  • 16    sixteen
  • 17    seventeen
  • 18    eighteen
  • 19    nineteen

The word names for the numbers 20 to 90 are

  • 20 twenty
  • 30 thirty
  • 40 forty
  • 50 fifty
  • 60 sixty
  • 70 seventy
  • 80 eighty
  • 90 ninety

The names for the numbers between groups of tens also follow a pattern. The first number tells us how many tens. The second number tells us how many ones.

20s
Number Tens Ones
20 twenty
21 twenty-one
22 twenty-two
23 twenty-three
24 twenty-four
25 twenty-five
26 twenty-six
27 twenty-seven
28 twenty-eight
29 twenty-nine
30s
Number Tens Ones
30 thirty
31 thirty-one
32 thirty-two
33 thirty-three
34 thirty-four
35 thirty-five
36 thirty-six
37 thirty-seven
38 thirty-eight
39 thirty-nine
40s
Number Tens Ones
40 forty
41 forty-one
42 forty-two
43 forty-three
44 forty-four
45 forty-five
46 forty-six
47 forty-seven
48 forty-eight
49 forty-nine

The written names for numbers that have tens and ones are written with a hyphen (-) between them. This pattern with the hyphen continues up to ninety-nine (99).

When we write hundreds in words, we need two words. The first word tells us how many hundreds. The second word tells us we are counting hundreds.

200     two hundred

You now know how to write numbers in words up to 999.

Example C

[latex]\begin{array}{llll} \textbf{367} \text{ is made of}&\textbf{3} \text{ hundreds}&\textbf{6} \text{ tens}&\textbf{7} \text{ ones}\\ \text{Each part is written:}&\text{three hundreds}&\text{sixty}&\text{seven}\end{array}\\ \text{Put the parts together: }\textbf{three hundred sixty-seven}[/latex]

Remember:

  • hyphen (-) between the tens and units no hyphen anywhere else
  • no “s” on the hundred
  • no “and” between the hundreds place and the tens place

Here is another example.  Watch out for the empty space!

Example D

[latex]\begin{array}{llll} \textbf{5054} \text{ is made of}&\textbf{5} \text{ hundreds}&\textbf{0} \text{ tens}&\textbf{4} \text{ ones}\\ \text{Each part is written:}&\text{five hundreds}&&\text{4}\end{array}\\ \text{Put the parts together: }\textbf{five hundred four}[/latex]

Here is another example.  Watch out for the empty space!

Example E

[latex]\begin{array}{llll} \textbf{890} \text{ is made of}&\textbf{9} \text{ hundreds}&\textbf{9} \text{ tens}&\textbf{0} \text{ ones}\\ \text{Each part is written:}&\text{eight hundreds}&\text{ninety}&\end{array}\\ \text{Put the parts together: }\textbf{eight hundred ninety}[/latex]

Here is another example. Watch out for the empty spaces!

Example F

[latex]\begin{array}{llll} \textbf{100} \text{ is made of}&\textbf{1} \text{ hundreds}&\textbf{0} \text{ tens}&\textbf{0} \text{ ones}\\ \text{Each part is written:}&\text{one hundred}&&\end{array}\\ \text{Put the parts together: }\textbf{one hundred}[/latex]

Remember: empty spaces are not written in words.

Numerals over 1000

Large numerals are read in the place value groups of three that you noticed in the place value chart. You have been practicing reading numerals with three digits or less. Now practice reading the thousands group.

Example G

423 796 is made of
hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
Numeral digits 4 2 3 7 9 6
Numeral words four hundred twenty three thousand seven hundred ninety six

Each is written:

  • The thousands group is written: four hundred twenty-three thousand.
  • The hundreds, tens, and ones are written: seven hundred ninety six.

Put the parts together: 423 796 is four hundred twenty-three thousand seven hundred ninety-six.

hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
26 201 is made of [empty] 2 6 2 0 1
Each is written twenty-six thousand two hundred [empty] one
Put the parts together twenty-six thousand two hundred one

26 201 is twenty-six thousand two hundred one.

hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
400 000 is made of 4 0 0 0 0 0
Each is written four hundred thousand
Put the parts together four hundred thousand

400 000 is four hundred thousand.

Exercise Five

Write the word names for the numerals. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. 491200

    hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    Numeral digits
    Numeral words
    1. Each is written:
      1. Thousands:
      2. Hundreds, tens, ones:
    2. Put the parts together:
  2. hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    19 631 is made of
    Each is written
    Put the parts together
  3. hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    623 009 is made of
    Each is written
    Put the parts together
  4. 923 471                     
  5. 53 679                     

Answers to Exercise Five

  1. 491 200
    hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    Numeral digits 4 9 1 2 0 0
    Numeral words four hundred nintey one thousand two hundred
    1. Each is written:
      1. Thousands: Four hundred ninety-one thousand
      2. Hundreds, tens, ones: Two hundred
    2. Put the parts together: Four hundred ninety-one thousand two hundred
  2. hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    19 631 is made of [empty] 1 9 6 3 1
    Each is written nineteen thousand six hundred thirty one
    Put the parts together nineteen thousand six hundred thirty-one
  3. hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    623 009 is made of 6 2 3 0 0 9
    Each is written six hundred twenty-three thousand [empty] [empty] nine
    Put the parts together six hundred twenty-three thousand nine
  4. nine hundred twenty-three thousand four hundred seventy-one
  5. fifty-three thousand six hundred seventy-nine

Now, just for fun, take a look at these very large numerals.  Say ―million for the group to the left of the thousands group.

millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
2 643 182 is made of 2 6 4 3 1 8 2
Each is written two million six hundred forty-three thousand one hundred eighty two
Put the parts together two million six hundred forty-three thousand one hundred eighty-two
millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
6 510 231 is made of 6 5 1 0 2 3 1
Each is written six million five hundred ten thousand two hundred thirty one
Put the parts together six million five hundred ten thousand two hundred thirty-one

Exercise Six

Write the word names for the numerals. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    2 851 234 is made of
    Each is written
    Put the parts together
  2. millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    3 186 662 is made of
    Each is written
    Put the parts together
  3. 3 916 875                       
  4. 4 873 519                       

Answers to Exercise Six

  1. millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    2 851 234 is made of 2 8 5 1 2 3 4
    Each is written two million eight hundred fifty-one thousand two hundred thirty four
    Put the parts together two million eight hundred fifty-one thousand two hundred thirty-four
  2. millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    3 186 662 is made of 3 1 8 6 6 6 2
    Each is written three million one hundred eighty-six thousand six hundred sixty two
    Put the parts together three million one hundred eighty-six thousand six hundred sixty-two
  3. three million nine hundred sixteen thousand eight hundred seventy-five
  4. four million eight hundred seventy-three thousand five hundred nineteen

Work on reading these numerals with someone else and then ask your instructor to listen as you read them.

  • 241962107
  • 483450
  • 27800
  • 2345409
  • 164231
  • 260164342
  • 138000
  • 410623
  • 912050
  • 24900
  • 227695
  • 105576

Exercise Seven

Now practice writing numerals from number names. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. Eight hundred twenty-three thousand nine hundred forty-one
    eight hundred twenty-three thousand nine hundred forty-one
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    8 2 3 9 4 1
    823 941
  2. Three million four hundred eighty-one thousand five hundred sixty-seven
    three million four hundred eighty-one thousand five hundred sixty- seven
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    3 4 8 1 5 6 7
    3 481 567
  3. Two hundred seventy-six thousand five hundred eight
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
  4. One million six hundred fifty-eight thousand three hundred twenty-five
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
  5. Four million eight hundred sixteen thousand two hundred thirty-two
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
  6. Two hundred seventy-nine thousand two hundred sixty-one
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones

Answers to Exercise Seven

  1. Two hundred seventy-six thousand five hundred eight
    two hundred seventy-six thousand five hundred eight
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    2 7 6 5 0 8
    276 508
  2. One million six hundred fifty-eight thousand three hundred twenty-five
    one million six hundred fifty-eight thousand three hundred twenty-five
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    1 6 5 8 3 2 5
    1 658 325
  3. Four million eight hundred sixteen thousand two hundred thirty-two
    four million eight hundred sixteen thousand two hundred thirty-two
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    4 8 1 6 2 3 2
    4 816 232
  4. Two hundred seventy-nine thousand two hundred sixty-one
    two hundred seventy-nine thousand two hundred sixty-one
    millions hundred thousands ten thousands thousands hundreds tens ones
    2 7 9 2 6 1
    279 261

Exercise Eight

Write the number in each of the word problems. Check your work using the answer key at the end of the exercise.

  1. The Nile River in Africa is the longest river in the world. It is two thousand five hundred sixty-nine kilometers.
  2. Canada shares a border with the United States that is eight thousand eight hundred ninety-three kilometers.
  3. The distance around the Earth is forty thousand seventy-six kilometers.
  4. The population of British Columbia in 2009 was four million four hundred fifty-five thousand two hundred seven.

Answers for Exercise Eight

  1. 2 569 kilometers
  2. 8 893 kilometers
  3. 40 076 kilometers
  4. 4 455 207 people

Topic A: Self-Test

Mark / 17     Aim 14/17

  1. Write the place value for the underlined digit. (6 marks)
    1. 8765 the place value of 6
    2. 930 the place value of 0
    3. 47932 the place value of 4
    4. 85421 the place value of 5
    5. 279673 the place value of 2
    6. 397 the place value of 3
  2. Write the word names for these numerals. (6 marks)
    1. 59
    2. 942
    3. 7378
    4. 8200
    5. 4005
    6. 58310
  3. Write the numerals for these word names. (5 marks)
    1. eight hundred forty-seven
    2. four thousand three hundred eighty
    3. two hundred seventy-five thousand eighty-seven
    4. sixty thousand four hundred sixteen
    5. fifteen thousand twenty

Answers to Topic A Self-Test

    1. tens
    2. ones
    3. ten thousands
    4. thousands
    5. hundred thousands
    6. hundreds
    1. fifty-nine
    2. nine hundred forty-two
    3. seven thousand three hundred seventy-eight
    4. eight thousand two hundred
    5. four thousand five
    6. fifty-eight thousand three hundred ten
    1. 847
    2. 4 380
    3. 275 087
    4. 60 416
    5. 15 020

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Adult Literacy Fundamental Mathematics: Book 2 – 2nd Edition Copyright © 2022 by Wendy Tagami and Liz Girard is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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