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Grade 4 · Maths · Lessons
Reading a big number
🔢digits1️⃣thousands🔟ten thousands💯hundred thousands
Big numbers.
The big ideaRead in groups of three, and the biggest place decides.

How it works

Read in groups of three digits, and the biggest place decides.

8413 is 8000 + 400 + 10 + 3.

To compare, start at the biggest place and move right until the digits differ.

Same so far• 3, 6, 2, 1, 2 matchLast digit• 9 is more than 7• so 362129 is bigger
Compare 362129 and 362127.

Example 1: Stretch it out

  1. 8413 = ? + 400 + 10 + 3
  2. The thousands are 8000.
  3. The rest is 400 + 10 + 3.
  4. So the answer is 8000.

Example 2: Write in digits

  1. two thousand four hundred ten: ?
  2. Two thousand is 2 in the thousands place.
  3. Four hundred ten fills the rest, so 410.
  4. So the answer is 2410.

Example 3: Compare

  1. 362129 ? 362127
  2. The first five digits match.
  3. Compare the ones: 9 and 7.
  4. So the answer is >.

Words to know

thousand
Ten hundreds: 1,000.
digit
One of the symbols 0 to 9.

Watch out

Try it

  1. What is 5 thousands and 3 ones?
  2. Which is bigger: 45 210 or 45 120?
  3. What is the 4 worth in 4,700?
  4. Write 6000 + 300 + 20 + 1.
Answers: 1. 5003 · 2. 45 210 · 3. 4,000 · 4. 6321
For grown-upsRead big numbers from the news aloud together, in groups of three digits.
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