Writing Whole Numbers With Words
Learning Outcomes
- Write a whole number given as digits in words
- Write a whole number given in words as digits
Use Place Value to Name Whole Numbers
When you write a check, you write out the number in words as well as in digits. To write a number in words, write the number in each period followed by the name of the period without the ‘s’ at the end. Start with the digit at the left, which has the largest place value. The commas separate the periods, so wherever there is a comma in the number, write a comma between the words. The ones period, which has the smallest place value, is not named.
So the number [latex]37,519,248[/latex] is written thirty-seven million, five hundred nineteen thousand, two hundred forty-eight.
Notice that the word and is not used when naming a whole number.
Name a whole number in words
- Starting at the digit on the left, name the number in each period, followed by the period name. Do not include the period name for the ones.
- Use commas in the number to separate the periods.
example
Name the number [latex]8,165,432,098,710[/latex] in words. Solution| Begin with the leftmost digit, which is[latex]8[/latex]. It is in the trillions place. | eight trillion |
| The next period to the right is billions. | one hundred sixty-five billion |
| The next period to the right is millions. | four hundred thirty-two million |
| The next period to the right is thousands. | ninety-eight thousand |
| The rightmost period shows the ones. | seven hundred ten |
Putting all of the words together, we write [latex]8,165,432,098,710[/latex] as eight trillion, one hundred sixty-five billion, four hundred thirty-two million, ninety-eight thousand, seven hundred ten.
example
A student conducted research and found that the number of mobile phone users in the United States during one month in [latex]2014[/latex] was [latex]327,577,529[/latex]. Name that number in words.Answer:
Identify the periods associated with the number.
Name the number in each period, followed by the period name. Put the commas in to separate the periods.
Millions period: three hundred twenty-seven million
Thousands period: five hundred seventy-seven thousand
Ones period: five hundred twenty-nine
So the number of mobile phone users in the Unites States during the month of April was three hundred twenty-seven million, five hundred seventy-seven thousand, five hundred twenty-nine.
try it
The population in a country is [latex]316,128,839[/latex]. Name that number.Answer: three hundred sixteen million, one hundred twenty-eight thousand, eight hundred thirty nine
There are [latex]31,536,000[/latex] seconds in one year. Name that number.Answer: thirty one million, five hundred thirty-six thousand
Use Place Value to Write Whole Numbers
We will now reverse the process and write a number given in words as digits.Use place value to write a whole number
- Identify the words that indicate periods. (Remember the ones period is never named.)
- Draw three blanks to indicate the number of places needed in each period. Separate the periods by commas.
- Name the number in each period and place the digits in the correct place value position.
example
Write the following numbers using digits.- fifty-three million, four hundred one thousand, seven hundred forty-two
- nine billion, two hundred forty-six million, seventy-three thousand, one hundred eighty-nine
Answer:
ⓐ Identify the words that indicate periods.
Except for the first period, all other periods must have three places. Draw three blanks to indicate the number of places needed in each period. Separate the periods by commas.
Then write the digits in each period.
Put the numbers together, including the commas. The number is [latex]53,401,742[/latex].
ⓑ Identify the words that indicate periods.
Except for the first period, all other periods must have three places. Draw three blanks to indicate the number of places needed in each period. Separate the periods by commas.
Then write the digits in each period.
The number is [latex]9,246,073,189[/latex].
Notice that in part ⓑ, a zero was needed as a place-holder in the hundred thousands place. Be sure to write zeros as needed to make sure that each period, except possibly the first, has three places.
Write each number in standard form:
fifty-three million, eight hundred nine thousand, fifty-one.
53,809,051
example
A state budget was about [latex]\text{\$77}[/latex] billion. Write the budget in standard form.Answer:
Identify the periods. In this case, only two digits are given and they are in the billions period. To write the entire number, write zeros for all of the other periods.
So the budget was about [latex]\text{\$77,000,000,000.}[/latex]
try it
Write each number in standard form:- The closest distance from Earth to Mars is about [latex]34[/latex] million miles.
- The total weight of an aircraft carrier is [latex]204[/latex] million pounds.
Answer:
- [latex]34,000,000[/latex] miles
- [latex]204,000,000[/latex] pounds
Licenses & Attributions
CC licensed content, Shared previously
- Example: Write a Whole Number in Digits from Words. Authored by: James Sousa (Mathispower4u.com). License: CC BY: Attribution.
- Question ID: 143208. Authored by: Leon Brin. 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].
