Writing numbers up to a million
Using the place value table can help you to write large numbers.
Look at the following numbers:
| Numbers in figures | Numbers in words |
| 10 | Ten |
| 100 | Hundred |
| 1 000 | Thousand |
| 10 000 | Ten thousand |
| 100 000 | Hundred thousand |
| 1 000 000 | Million |
You will notice that the numbers are grouped in three figures. There is a space between each group of three figures (counting from right to left). You will sometimes see a comma used to separate the three figures. (If there is no comma in a large number and you have problem saying it, try putting in the comma.)
This grouping can help you to say the number 405 000.
The first group of three figures is four hundred and five and the last three figures show thousands (since there are three zeros in a thousand).
The number is four hundred and five thousand.
| This example shows how important zero is. In 405 000 the zero between the 4 and 5 keeps the place for the missing tens of thousands. Without the zero, the number is forty five thousand (45 000). |
