Understanding Numbers

Numbers are everywhere! From counting your toys to keeping score in a game, knowing how numbers work helps you every day.

What is Place Value?

Place value tells us how much each digit in a number is worth, depending on where it is. In the number 3,482, the 3 is in the thousands place, so it means 3,000.

• Thousands Place: The fourth digit from the right.
• Hundreds Place: The third digit from the right.
• Tens Place: The second digit from the right.
• Ones Place: The first digit from the right.

Why is Place Value Important?

Understanding place value helps you add, subtract, and read big numbers easily.

Comparing and Ordering Numbers

You can compare numbers using symbols like \( < \) (less than), \( > \) (greater than), or \( = \) (equal to).

• 4,321 \( > \) 3,999
• 2,000 \( < \) 2,001

Fun Fact

Every time you add a zero to the end of a number, its value increases ten times!

Real-World Uses

• Reading prices at the store
• Figuring out scores in games
• Counting collections