Place Value to Millions
Grade 4 · Math · Study Guide
Understand how large numbers are organized using place value up to the millions.
Every digit in a number has a specific value based on its position. That position is called its place value. You already know ones, tens, and hundreds from earlier grades. In 4th grade, we go much further — all the way to the millions!
Think of place value like a building with floors. The ones place is the ground floor, tens is the next floor up, then hundreds, thousands, ten-thousands, hundred-thousands, and finally the millions floor at the top. In the number 3,456,789: the 3 is in the millions place, the 4 is in the hundred-thousands place, and the 5 is in the ten-thousands place.
We use commas to separate groups of three digits, making big numbers easier to read. These groups are called periods. The number 2,050,316 is read as 'two million, fifty thousand, three hundred sixteen.'
Expanded form shows the value of each digit. For example, 4,372 in expanded form is 4,000 + 300 + 70 + 2. This helps you see exactly what each digit is worth based on where it sits.
| Millions | Hundred-Thousands | Ten-Thousands | Thousands | Hundreds | Tens | Ones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Key terms
- Place value
- The value of a digit based on its position in a number.
- Period
- A group of three digits separated by a comma in a large number.
- Expanded form
- Writing a number as the sum of the values of each digit.
- Standard form
- The usual way to write a number using digits, like 3,456,789.
- Word form
- Writing a number using words, like 'three million, four hundred fifty-six thousand, seven hundred eighty-nine.'
Flashcards
- Millions place
- The 7th digit from the right in a whole number.
- Expanded form of 5,382
- 5,000 + 300 + 80 + 2
- Standard form
- Writing a number normally using digits, like 4,500,000.
- What is the value of 6 in 6,320,000?
- 6,000,000 (six million)
- Period
- A group of three digits separated by commas in a large number.
- Word form of 1,050,000
- One million, fifty thousand
Practice questions
In the number 4,637,205, what digit is in the hundred-thousands place?
- 4
- 6
- 3
- 7
Show answer
Answer: 6
In 4,637,205: the millions digit is 4, the hundred-thousands digit is 6, ten-thousands is 3, etc.
In the number 2,058,400, the digit 5 is in the ten-thousands place.
Show answer
Answer: True
In 2,058,400: millions=2, hundred-thousands=0, ten-thousands=5. The 5 is indeed in the ten-thousands place.
The number 6,000 + 400 + 30 + 2 in standard form is ___.
Show answer
Answer: 6,432
6,000 + 400 + 30 + 2 = 6,432. Each term represents one place value position.
Which number has a 7 in the millions place?
- 7,234
- 700,000
- 7,000,000
- 70,000
Show answer
Answer: 7,000,000
7,000,000 has seven digits, with the 7 in the leftmost (millions) position.
The number 3,200,000 written in word form starts with 'three ___'.
Show answer
Answer: million
3,200,000 is three million, two hundred thousand. The word after 'three' is 'million.'
Fun facts
- One million seconds is about 11.5 days. One billion seconds is about 31.7 years!
- The United States has more than 330 million people — that's a 9-digit number.
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