Large numbers and other numerals · Usually met around P5
Reading, writing and comparing large numbers
Groups of four in Chinese, three with commas.
How to do it
Method
Groups of four in Chinese, three with commas
305,060,700 = 3 × 100,000,000 + 506 × 10,000 + 700
Another way
A place-value table
100M 10M 1M 100K 10K 1K 100 10 1: 3 0 5 0 6 0 7 0 0
In full
From right to left the places are: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions, ten millions, hundred millions. In English, commas split the digits into groups of three from the right: ones, then thousands, then millions, then billions, each group 1,000 times the one before. 305,060,700 is read three hundred and five million, sixty thousand, seven hundred. Chinese splits the same digits into groups of four instead (3 | 0506 | 0700). Both groupings work; each place is worth 10 times the place on its right. To compare, count the digits first: more digits, bigger number. With the same number of digits, go from the highest place down; the first digit that differs decides.
Worked examples
Have a go first, then open each one for the answer and the working.
Example 1
In 931,141,630, the digit 4 stands for 4 × □.
Show the answer and working
Answer: 10000
4 is digit 5 from the right, a place worth 10,000, so it stands for 4 × 10,000.
Example 2
372,210,936 = □ × 100,000,000 + □ × 10,000 + □
Fill in each box
Show the answer and working
Answer: 3，7221，936
Split into fours from the right: the last four digits are 936, the next four are 7221 × 10,000, and the rest 3 × 100,000,000.
Example 3
869,122,165 is greater than 879,122,165.
True or false?
Show the answer and working
Answer: False
Same number of digits: compare from the highest place down; the first digit that differs decides.
Practise it in the game →Large numbers and other numerals · Free to start, unlimited questions, no download