Understand the Use of Zero as a Place Holder in 4-Digit Numbers

The position of a digit in a number has a very important role. 

It tells us the value of the digit in that particular number.

Let's take the following digits:  8  4  3  9

What would you rather have:

£ 3,489

or

£ 9,843

I know what I would prefer!

Th  H  T  O

 3   4   8   9

 9   8   4   3 

We can see that the value of the each digit is either thousands, hundreds, tens, or ones.

To get the largest value, the highest digit goes in the thousands column, down to the lowest digit in the ones column.

Let's have another go.

Find the highest number we can make with the following digits:   3  6  4  2  

The digits will go in the following columns:

Th  H  T  O

 6   4   3   2

The highest digit goes in the thousands column down to the lowest in the ones column.

In this number, the 6 digit has a value of 6,000

In this number, the 4 digit has a value of 400

In this number, the 3 digit has a value of 30

In this number, the 2  digit has a value of 2

Try some questions for yourself - good luck!