Chapter 1

Recognising and Writing Numbers

Learn to read and write whole numbers up to 10 000 in numerals and in words.

Reading numbers up to 10 000

A four-digit number has a thousands, hundreds, tens and ones place. We read it from left to right. For example, 3 476 is read as three thousand four hundred and seventy-six.

When a place has a 0, we do not read that place. So 5 002 is read as five thousand and two, and 3 070 is three thousand and seventy.

Worked example

Write 2 358 in words. Thousands = 2, hundreds = 3, tens and ones = 58. So 2 358 = two thousand three hundred and fifty-eight.

Writing numbers

To write a number from words, put each digit in its correct place. "Seven thousand and forty" has 7 thousands, 0 hundreds, 4 tens and 0 ones, so we write 7 040.

Remember

  • Leave a small space in four-digit numbers: 1 000, not 1000.
  • Say "and" where there are no hundreds, like five thousand and two.
  • 10 000 has five digits.

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