Place Value
Each digit in a number has a place value depending on its position. These positions can be thought of as columns labelled by powers of ten, with the powers increasing from right to left as illustrated in the following table.
When reading Hindu‐Arabic numerals, the digit with the largest place value is read first. Thus the number 7352 is read as “seven thousand, three hundred and fifty‐two”, and we think of it in columns as illustrated in the following table.
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The importance of zero
The digit 0 is essential in the Hindu‐Arabic system because it acts as a place‐holder. In the number 302, the 0 tells us that there are ‘no tens’.
Multiplying a number by ten shifts each digit one place to the left. Because there is now nothing in the ones column, we put a 0 in that column as a place‐holder. The following table illustrates the process for 35 × 10 = 350.
The digit 0 is essential in the Hindu‐Arabic system because it acts as a place‐holder. In the number 302, the 0 tells us that there are ‘no tens’.
Multiplying a number by ten shifts each digit one place to the left. Because there is now nothing in the ones column, we put a 0 in that column as a place‐holder. The following table illustrates the process for 35 × 10 = 350.
Conventions about spacing and naming
A number with many digits can be hard to read. We cluster the digits in groups of three, starting from the ones place, and separate different groups by a thin space. By convention we do not put a space in a four‐digit number. Thus we write 7352, but 17 352 and 2 417 352.
The nested method that we use to name the columns enables us to read very large numbers using a few basic words such as thousands and millions.
A number with many digits can be hard to read. We cluster the digits in groups of three, starting from the ones place, and separate different groups by a thin space. By convention we do not put a space in a four‐digit number. Thus we write 7352, but 17 352 and 2 417 352.
The nested method that we use to name the columns enables us to read very large numbers using a few basic words such as thousands and millions.
Envision Maths video. Complete Envision "Reading and writing thousands" p 4 & 5
Explicit teaching of Place Value games
Explicit teaching of Place Value games