Numbers higher than 1000

In a nutshell

For numbers greater than $$1000$$, you are introduced to new place value columns.  These larger place value columns from largest to smallest are millions, hundred thousands, ten thousands and thousands. Reading, writing and comparing numbers higher than $$1000$$ follows a very similar process to numbers smaller than $$1000$$​.

Place value

When a number is written in digits, the position of the digit tells you its value. Numbers are read in order of size value, from left to right. The digit furthest to the right represents ones, then reading to the left of the ones are the tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands and millions respectively. You can use a place value chart to show the digits separately.

Example 1

Write the number $$97 \space512$$ in a place value chart.

There are five digits, so separate the number into ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens and ones.

Reading numbers higher than 1000

Once you can identify the place value for each digit in a number, it is possible to read and write the number in words.

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Example 2

Write the number $$105 \ 289$$ in words.

There are $$1$$ hundred thousands, $$0$$ ten thousands, $$5$$ thousands, $$2$$​ hundreds, $$8$$​ tens and $$9$$ ones, which can be written as:

One hundred and five thousand, two hundred and eighty-one.

Comparing numbers higher than 1000

You can use place value charts to compare numbers, or put them in order. To compare two numbers, write them both in a place value chart and compare the largest digit to see which number is bigger. If the digits in the same place value column are the same, move to the next place value column to the right.  Continue this process until you reach your answer.

Example 3

Which number is bigger: $$3750$$ or $$3214$$?

Firstly, place the values into a place value chart

For both numbers, the digit for the thousands column is the same. Therefore, to see which number is bigger, compare the digit in the next place value column, the hundreds. $$7$$ is bigger than $$2$$, so $$3750$$ is the bigger number.

Therefore, $$\underline{3750 \gt 3214}$$.