Whole Numbers and Place Value
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the whole numbers from a list of numbers
- Identify the counting numbers from a list of numbers
- Use place value notation to find the place value of a number modeled by base-10 blocks
- Identify the place value of a digit in a number
Identify Counting Numbers and Whole Numbers
Learning algebra is similar to learning a language. You start with a basic vocabulary and then add to it as you go along. You need to practice often until the vocabulary becomes easy to you. The more you use the vocabulary, the more familiar it becomes. Algebra uses numbers and symbols to represent words and ideas. Let’s look at the numbers first. The most basic numbers used in algebra are those we use to count objects: [latex]1,2,3,4,5,\dots [/latex] and so on. These are called the counting numbers. The notation "…" is called an ellipsis, which is another way to show "and so on", or that the pattern continues endlessly. Counting numbers are also called natural numbers.Counting Numbers
The counting numbers start with [latex]1[/latex] and continue. [latex-display]1,2,3,4,5\dots[/latex-display]
Whole Numbers
The whole numbers are the counting numbers and zero. [latex-display]0,1,2,3,4,5\ldots[/latex-display]example
Which of the following are [latex]1[/latex]. counting numbers? [latex]2[/latex]. whole numbers? [latex-display]0,\frac{1}{4},3,5.2,15,105[/latex-display] Solution- The counting numbers start at [latex]1[/latex], so [latex]0[/latex] is not a counting number. The numbers [latex]3,15,\text{and }105[/latex] are all counting numbers.
- Whole numbers are counting numbers and [latex]0[/latex]. The numbers [latex]0,3,15,\text{and }105[/latex] are whole numbers.
Try It
Which of the following are [latex]1[/latex]. counting numbers [latex]2[/latex]. whole numbers? [latex-display]0,\frac{2}{3},2,9,11.8,241,376[/latex-display]Answer:
- [latex]2, 9, 241, 376[/latex]
- [latex]0, 2, 9, 241, 376[/latex]
Model Whole Numbers
Our number system is called a place value system because the value of a digit depends on its position, or place, in a number. The number [latex]537[/latex] has a different value than the number [latex]735[/latex]. Even though they use the same digits, their value is different because of the different placement of the [latex]3[/latex] and the [latex]7[/latex] and the [latex]5[/latex]. Money gives us a familiar model of place value. Suppose a wallet contains three $100 bills, seven $10 bills, and four $1 bills. The amounts are summarized in the image below. How much money is in the wallet?




Digit | Place value | Number | Value | Total value |
---|---|---|---|---|
[latex]1[/latex] | hundreds | [latex]1[/latex] | [latex]100[/latex] | [latex]100\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
[latex]3[/latex] | tens | [latex]3[/latex] | [latex]10[/latex] | [latex]30\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
[latex]8[/latex] | ones | [latex]8[/latex] | [latex]1[/latex] | [latex]+\phantom{\rule{.5 em}{0ex}}8\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
[latex]\text{Sum =}138\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
example
Use place value notation to find the value of the number modeled by the base-10 blocks shown.
Answer:
There are [latex]2[/latex] hundreds squares, which is [latex]200[/latex].
There is [latex]1[/latex] tens rod, which is [latex]10[/latex].
There are [latex]5[/latex] ones blocks, which is [latex]5[/latex].
Digit | Place value | Number | Value | Total value |
---|---|---|---|---|
[latex]2[/latex] | hundreds | [latex]2[/latex] | [latex]100[/latex] | [latex]200\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
[latex]1[/latex] | tens | [latex]1[/latex] | [latex]10[/latex] | [latex]10\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
[latex]5[/latex] | ones | [latex]5[/latex] | [latex]1[/latex] | [latex]+\phantom{\rule{.5 em}{0ex}}5\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
[latex]215\phantom{\rule{1 em}{0ex}}[/latex] |
try it
Use place value notation to find the value of the number modeled by the base-10 blocks shown.
Answer: 237
Identify the Place Value of a Digit
By looking at money and base-10 blocks, we saw that each place in a number has a different value. A place value chart is a useful way to summarize this information. The place values are separated into groups of three, called periods. The periods are ones, thousands, millions, billions, trillions, and so on. In a written number, commas separate the periods. Just as with the [latex]\text{base - 10}[/latex] blocks, where the value of the tens rod is ten times the value of the ones block and the value of the hundreds square is ten times the tens rod, the value of each place in the place-value chart is ten times the value of the place to the right of it. The chart below shows how the number [latex]5,278,194[/latex] is written in a place value chart.
- The digit [latex]5[/latex] is in the millions place. Its value is [latex]5,000,000[/latex].
- The digit [latex]2[/latex] is in the hundred thousands place. Its value is [latex]200,000[/latex].
- The digit [latex]7[/latex] is in the ten thousands place. Its value is [latex]70,000[/latex].
- The digit [latex]8[/latex] is in the thousands place. Its value is [latex]8,000[/latex].
- The digit [latex]1[/latex] is in the hundreds place. Its value is [latex]100[/latex].
- The digit [latex]9[/latex] is in the tens place. Its value is [latex]90[/latex].
- The digit [latex]4[/latex] is in the ones place. Its value is [latex]4[/latex].
example
In the number [latex]63,407,218[/latex]; find the place value of each of the following digits:- [latex]7[/latex]
- [latex]0[/latex]
- [latex]1[/latex]
- [latex]6[/latex]
- [latex]3[/latex]
Answer:
Write the number in a place value chart, starting at the right.
- The [latex]7[/latex] is in the thousands place.
- The [latex]0[/latex] is in the ten thousands place.
- The [latex]1[/latex] is in the tens place.
- The [latex]6[/latex] is in the ten millions place.
- The [latex]3[/latex] is in the millions place.
try it
For each number, find the place value of digits listed: [latex]27,493,615[/latex]- [latex]2[/latex]
- [latex]1[/latex]
- [latex]4[/latex]
- [latex]7[/latex]
- [latex]5[/latex]
Answer:
- Ten Millions
- Tens
- Hundred Thousands
- Millions
- Ones
Try It
For each number, find the place value of digits listed: [latex]519,711,641,328[/latex]- [latex]9[/latex]
- [latex]4[/latex]
- [latex]2[/latex]
- [latex]6[/latex]
- [latex]7[/latex]
Answer:
- Billions
- Ten Thousands
- Tens
- Hundred Thousands
- Hundred Millions
Licenses & Attributions
CC licensed content, Shared previously
- Examples: Determining Place Value. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com). License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Determine a Whole Number Given Base 10 Blocks (Hundreds) . Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com). License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Question ID: 143012. Authored by: Alyson Day. License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: IMathAS Community License CC-BY + GPL.
- Question ID: 143031. Authored by: Lumen Learning. License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: IMathAS Community License CC-BY + GPL.
CC licensed content, Specific attribution
- Prealgebra. Provided by: OpenStax License: CC BY: Attribution. License terms: Download for free at http://cnx.org/contents/[email protected].