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Compare Numbers: Make the Largest or Smallest 4-Digit Number
Welcome, 3rd graders! Today, we’re going to have fun with numbers by learning how to compare and arrange them to make the biggest or smallest 4-digit number. Let’s dive in and become number experts!
What Is a 4-Digit Number?
A 4-digit number has four places: the thousands, hundreds, tens, and ones. For example, the number 4,836 is a 4-digit number where:
- The 4 is in the thousands place
- The 8 is in the hundreds place
- The 3 is in the tens place
- The 6 is in the ones place
Now, let’s learn how to create the biggest and smallest numbers from a set of digits.
Making the Largest 4-Digit Number
To make the largest 4-digit number, start by placing the biggest digit in the thousands place. Then, arrange the remaining digits in order from largest to smallest in the hundreds, tens, and ones places.
Example: If you have the digits 5, 2, 9, and 3, here’s how to arrange them:
- Place the largest digit (9) in the thousands place.
- Next, put the next largest digit (5) in the hundreds place.
- After that, place the next largest digit (3) in the tens place.
- Finally, the smallest digit (2) goes in the ones place.
So, the largest number you can make is 9,532.
Making the Smallest 4-Digit Number
To make the smallest 4-digit number, place the smallest non-zero digit in the thousands place (you can’t have a 0 in the thousands place!). Then, arrange the remaining digits from smallest to largest in the hundreds, tens, and ones places.
Example: If you have the digits 6, 0, 1, and 8, here’s what you do:
- Place the smallest non-zero digit (1) in the thousands place.
- Next, put the smallest digit (0) in the hundreds place.
- Then, place the next smallest digit (6) in the tens place.
- Finally, the largest digit (8) goes in the ones place.
The smallest number you can make is 1,068.
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