Order Multi-Digit Numbers

10 min

Narrative

The purpose of this True or False is to elicit the insights students have about the composition of multi-digit numbers in terms of place value. It also reinforces the idea that the same digit has different values depending on its place in a number—digits cannot be viewed in isolation of their positions. This reasoning will be helpful later when students compare and order numbers within 1,000,000.

Launch

  • Display one statement.
  • “Give me a signal when you know whether the statement is true and can explain how you know.”
  • 1 minute: quiet think time
Teacher Instructions
  • Share and record answers and strategy.
  • Repeat with each statement.

Student Task

Decide if each statement is true or false. Explain your reasoning.

  • 1,923=1+90+200+3,0001,923 = 1 + 90 + 200 + 3,000
  • 1,923=1,000+90+20+31,923 = 1,000 + 90 + 20 + 3
  • 19,203=10,000+9,000+200+319,203 = 10,000 + 9,000 + 200 + 3
  • 190,023=10,000+90,000+20+3190,023 = 10,000 + 90,000 + 20 + 3

Sample Response

  • False: the sum on the right is 3,291, which is not equal to 1,923.
  • False: the numbers on the right add up to 1,113, not 1,923.
  • True: the sum on the right, 19,203, is equal to the number on the left. The sum on the right is the expanded form of 19,203.
  • False: the sum on the right is 100,023, not 190,023.
Activity Synthesis (Teacher Notes)
  • “How would you correct the false statements so that they become true?”
    • 3,291=1+90+200+3,0003,291 = 1 + 90 + 200 + 3,000
    • 190,023=100,000+90,000+20+3190,023 = 100,000 + 90,000 + 20 +3
Standards
Addressing
  • 4.NBT.2·Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.
  • 4.NBT.A.2·Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using <span class="math">\(&gt;\)</span>, =, and <span class="math">\(&lt;\)</span> symbols to record the results of comparisons.

25 min

10 min