General Form of Numbers | Mathematics (Maths) Class 6 PDF Download

The Place Value

Example of Place Value

We have done the concept of place value in earlier classes and might remember the expansion of a two-digit number. Let us hit the refresh button and revisit the general forms of numbers.

Example: Two-digit number 67.

Now when we start from the right i.e from 7 to 6, the place of seven is known as Ones and that for 6 is known as Tens.

Hence if it’s a three-digit number, the places will be ones, tens and hundreds from right to left. Similarly, for a 4 digit number, it’ll be ones, tens, hundreds and thousands. For a five-digit number, the leftmost place will be called ten thousand. Let’s understand this concept.

Suppose we have a 3 digit number: 345. We can label the places as follows.

The value of hundreds place is 100. Similarly, for tens and ones, it is 10 and 1 respectively. As you might remember,

Using the above knowledge, the number 345 can be expanded as:
=3×100 + 4×10 + 5×1 = 345. 

Similarly, a 5 digit number 54672 is expanded as 

= 5×10000 + 4×1000 + 6×100 + 7×10 + 2×1

Large Numbers

Till now we have been studying numbers up to 5 digits. Let us expand our scope to large numbers, starting off with the following knowledge:

1. The Indian System of Numeration: (i.e. General Form of Numbers)

Places (left to right in order): Ten crores – Crore – Ten lakhs – Lakhs – Ten thousands – Thousands – Hundreds – Tens – Ones 

2. The International System of Numeration:

Places (left to right in order): Hundred million – Ten million – Million – Hundred thousand – Ten thousand – Thousand – Hundred – Tens – Ones 

Thus we can expand our understanding of the general form of numbers with 9 digits and more. 

Example: The expansion of 265478100 is given as.
265478100 = 2×100000000 + 6×10000000 + 5×1000000 + 4×100000 + 7×10000 + 8×1000 + 1×100 + 0×10 + 0×1. 

Further, its number name is given as: 

• Twenty-six crore fifty-four lakh seventy-eight thousand one hundred (Indian System)
• Two hundred sixty-five million four hundred seventy-eight thousand one hundred (International system)

Using Commas

Commas are generally used to ease the process of reading and writing large numbers. For the Indian system of numeration, commas are used to mark thousands, lakhs and crores. On the contrary, for the International system of numeration, commas are used to mark thousands and millions.

Example: 72705062 can be written as 7,27,05,062 in the Indian system whereas it is written as 72,705,062 in the international system.

Comparing Numbers

With all the information about the general form of numbers, we can easily compare them. When we compare two numbers we start comparing the digits of each number from left. The two scenarios that arise are- they can have an unequal or equal number of digits.
In the first case i.e. for comparing numbers with an unequal number of digits, obviously, the number with more digits is greater.
Example: Among 12, 123, 1234 and 12345 the greatest number is 12345 since it is a 5 digit number.
For comparison of two numbers having an equal number of digits, we compare the digits at the places starting from left.
Example: If we need to compare 4567 and 4578, we start by looking at the digits of both numbers at the leftmost place(here thousand).
As both are the same, we move on to the hundred places. Here also the digit 5 is the same in both. Further, we move on to the tens place. Here we can see that the digit(6) at tens place of 4567 is less than the digit(7) at tens place of 4578. Hence, we conclude that 4578 is greater than 4567.

Ascending Order and Descending Order

As now know how to compare numbers, we can easily arrange a given set of numbers. We can either arrange the numbers in increasing order (known as Ascending order) or in decreasing order (known as Descending order). 
Example: 12, 18, 45, 39, 20, 1, 5
(i) Ascending order: 1, 5, 12, 18, 20, 39, 45
(ii) Descending order: 45, 39, 20, 18, 12, 5, 1

Note: Observe that ascending and descending orders are reverse of each other. 

Solved Example 

Ques: Arrange the following in ascending order:
847, 9754, 8320, 571
Ans: The numbers in ascending order are as follows:
571, 847, 8320, 9754

Estimation

Often in real-life situations, knowing the exact number of things is not as important. An estimate is far more practical and easier to calculate. For example, the Prime Minister of India does not need to know the exact number of students pursuing higher education in India. He only requires an estimate so he can form policies accordingly.
To find an estimate is easier, cheaper and less time-consuming than an actual count in many cases. If the situation does not warrant an exact count, estimation is a way to go. Let us learn a few methods related to estimation.

1. Rounding off to nearest Tens

Let us take an example of three numbers 14, 15 and 16. We are to round off these numbers to the nearest tens place. Now imagine these numbers on a number scale. Is 14 closer to 10 or to 20. It is closer to 10, so we can round off 14 as 10. Similarly, 16 is closer to 20, and hence we can round off 16 as 20. 15 is equidistant from both 10 and 20. It is the general practice to round up, which means 15 will be rounded off to 20 as well.
In conclusion, the numbers ending in 1, 2, 3, and 4 are rounded down, while those ending in 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are rounded up to the nearest tens place.
Example: 47 will be rounded off to 50, but 83 will be rounded off to 80.

2. Rounding off to Hundreds

The same principle applies here. We see if the number is closer to the lower hundred or the higher one on the number line. We will better understand with examples.
Rounding off the numbers 416 and 485. Here 416 is definitely closer to 400, so we round it off to 400. And 485 will be rounded off to the next hundred, which is 500. One point to be noted, 450 while right in between 400 and 500 is generally rounded up to 500.
Example: Round off 43 to the nearest hundred. Here 43 is closer to 0 than to 100, and so we will round it off as 0.

3. Rounding off to Thousands

Example: Round off the following numbers

(i) 1234 → 1000

(ii) 7399 → 7000

(iii) 9845 → 10000

(iv) 3500 → 4000

Estimating Sums and Differences

Sometimes we don’t just estimate numbers, we all estimate certain mathematical productions. It makes calculating easier while giving us an estimation of the answer we require.
Example: You and your friends went on a donation drive. You each collected 435, 664,  410 and 239 rupees. So if you wanted to add up the amounts, an estimation of the sum would be efficient.
We will begin by rounding off the numbers to the nearest tens and then adding up the estimated numbers
(i) Estimated Sum: 440 + 660 + 410 + 240 = 1750
(ii) Actual Sum: 435 + 664+ 410 + 239 = 1748
As you can see from the calculations above the sums are very close to each other. The estimation of the sums was easier to calculate and time-saving as well. Let us now see some examples of estimation of differences and products. 

Estimate: 5733 – 458

(i) If we round off to thousands, the answer will be:

5733 rounds off to 6000

458 rounds off to 0

This does not seem to be an accurate answer at all.

(ii) Now we round off to hundreds, the answer will be:

5733 rounds off to 5700

458 rounds off to 500

The difference is 5200, and this seems like an accurate and reasonable estimation.

Estimating Product of Numbers

• Round off each factor to its greatest place, then multiply the rounded off factors.
• Estimating the product of 199 and 31:
  199 is rounded off to 200
  31 is rounded off to 30
  Estimated Product = 200 × 30 = 6000
  Actual Result = 199 × 31 = 6169

Solved Example