Primary 3 Numbers to 10 000
Read, build and compare numbers up to 10 000. Choose examples to see how place value helps you order them.
Keywords
- Digit
- One symbol from 0 to 9.
- Numeral
- A number written with digits, such as 4 325.
- Place value
- What a digit is worth because of its position.
- Expanded form
- A number written as the sum of its place values.
- Increasing order
- Smallest to largest: 3 086 → 3 608 → 3 680.
- Decreasing order
- Largest to smallest: 3 680 → 3 608 → 3 086.
Read and write numbers
Use a space in numerals from 1 000: 4 325. The table shows when number words use a comma, ‘and’, or a hyphen.
When do we use each mark?
Look at the number words. A ✓ means the mark appears in that example.
| No. | Comma | ‘and’ | Hyphen | Example | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | × | × | × | 4 000 | four thousand |
| 2 | × | ✓ | × | 4 005 | four thousand and five |
| 3 | × | ✓ | × | 4 300 | four thousand and three hundred |
| 4 | ✓ | ✓ | × | 4 320 | four thousand, three hundred and twenty |
| 5 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | 4 325 | four thousand, three hundred and twenty-five |
In numerals, use a space from 1 000 onwards: 4 325 and 10 000.
See worked example
Write 4 325 in words. Then write ‘six thousand and forty-two’ in numerals.
- 4 325 is 4 thousands, 3 hundreds, 2 tens and 5 ones. Read it as four thousand, three hundred and twenty-five.
- Twenty-five takes a hyphen because it joins the tens word and ones word. Use spaces between the number words.
- Six thousand and forty-two has no hundreds. Put 0 in the hundreds place and write 6 042.
Answer: four thousand, three hundred and twenty-five; 6 042.
Try together
Write 7 008 in words and ‘nine thousand six hundred and eighty’ in numerals.
Reveal the answer
seven thousand and eight; 9 680. The 0 in 7 008 holds the hundreds and tens places. Eighty is a whole ten, so it has no hyphen.
Place value
Ten hundreds make 1 000. Each digit has a place; a zero keeps an empty place open. Choose a number, then tap a digit to see its value.
6 208 = 6 000 + 200 + 8
Tap a digit to find its value
Tap a digit above. The 6 is worth 6 000.
See worked example
What is the value of the 6 in 6 208? Write 6 208 in expanded form.
- The 6 is in the thousands place, so its value is 6 000.
- The 2 is 2 hundreds, the 0 is 0 tens, and the 8 is 8 ones.
- Combine the place values: 6 000 + 200 + 8 = 6 208.
Answer: The 6 is worth 6 000; 6 208 = 6 000 + 200 + 8.
Try together
What is the value of the 7 in 4 705? Write the number in expanded form.
Reveal the answer
The 7 is worth 700; 4 705 = 4 000 + 700 + 5.
Comparing and ordering numbers
Compare digits from the largest place. At the first difference, the larger digit tells you the larger number. Increasing order goes from smallest to largest; decreasing order goes from largest to smallest.
Compare one place at a time
Start at the thousands place.
Ordering numbers
Order these numbers: 3 608, 3 680, 3 086
3 086 → 3 608 → 3 680
All have 3 thousands. Compare hundreds, then tens.
See worked example
Compare 4 709 and 4 790. Then put 3 608, 3 680 and 3 086 in increasing order.
- 4 709 and 4 790 match in the thousands and hundreds places. At the tens place, 0 is less than 9, so 4 709 < 4 790.
- All three numbers to order have 3 thousands. Compare the hundreds next: 3 086 has 0 hundreds, so it is smallest.
- 3 608 and 3 680 both have 6 hundreds. Compare the tens: 0 < 8.
Answer: 4 709 < 4 790; increasing order: 3 086, 3 608, 3 680.
Try together
Put 9 090, 9 900 and 10 000 in decreasing order.
Reveal the answer
10 000, 9 900, 9 090. The five-digit number is greatest; among the two four-digit numbers, 9 hundreds is greater than 0 hundreds.