Idea 4of 23Builds onRead a big number in two parts
A zero holds an empty place
Why do we write zeros in a number like 50 302?
Today you'll discover
- how to build a number from its parts
- what a zero does
- what goes wrong without one
Think firstParts: 5 ten thousands, 3 hundreds, 2 ones
What number do 5 ten thousands, 3 hundreds and 2 ones make?
Decide first, then press Next. Look for the places with nothing in them.
A place-value chart with blank boxes, and three parts under it: 50 000, 300 and 2. The parts slide up under their places; then the digits fill in as 5, 0, 3, 0, 2, the two zeros shaded, with the expanded form and the words fifty thousand three hundred two. The last step asks which number is eighty thousand six hundred four.
See the whole ideathe big idea and the key word, in one place
The big idea
A zero holds an empty place, so every other digit stays in its own place.
Compare them50 302, 5 302 and 532 use the same 5, 3 and 2. Only the zeros make them different numbers.
Key words
- placeholder
- a zero written to hold a place that has nothing in it
- compose
- to put parts together to make a number
Ready to use it?
- Build a number from its parts, with zeros in the empty places.