Problem 39 - Prealgebra

Question

In the following exercises, write each number as a whole number using digits. The population of the world was estimated to be seven billion, one hundred seventy-three million people.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

7,173,000,000

Step 1: Break Down the Number

Identify the different parts of the number mentioned in words. The number provided is seven billion, one hundred seventy-three million.

Step 2: Write Down the Billions

Convert 'seven billion' into digits. 'Seven billion' is written as 7,000,000,000.

Step 3: Write Down the Millions

Convert 'one hundred seventy-three million' into digits. 'One hundred seventy-three million' is written as 173,000,000.

Step 4: Add the Parts Together

Combine the billions and millions parts together: 7,000,000,000 + 173,000,000. This results in 7,173,000,000.

Step 5: Write the Final Number

The final number, written as a whole number using digits, is 7,173,000,000.

Key Concepts

Number Conversion

Converting numbers from words into digits is a foundational skill in mathematics. Let's understand number conversion through an example.
The goal is to write the population of the world, given as 'seven billion, one hundred seventy-three million', in numerical form.
To achieve this:

• Break down the number into understandable parts.
• Convert those parts into their respective digit forms.
• Combine these parts to form the final number.

In our example, 'seven billion' becomes 7,000,000,000 and 'one hundred seventy-three million' becomes 173,000,000. Adding these together gives us 7,173,000,000. This method ensures accuracy and clarity in representing large numbers.

Place Value

Understanding place value is essential for converting numbers accurately. In mathematics, place value represents the value of a digit based on its position in a number.
Here is how place value works:

• Each position in a number has a value that is a power of 10.
• The rightmost digit is in the 'ones' place, the next one to the left is in the 'tens' place, then 'hundreds', 'thousands', and so on.

For instance, in the number 7,173,000,000, the '7' is in the billions place, the '1' in the hundred millions, '7' in the ten millions, and '3' in the millions place.
Understanding the position helps to correctly write and interpret large numbers.

Large Numbers

Writing and interpreting large numbers can be challenging, but it becomes easier with practice.
When dealing with large numbers:

• Break down the number into sections.
• Use commas to separate thousands, millions, billions for clarity.
• Understand each section’s place value.

For example, the population of the world in this exercise is 7,173,000,000.
Breaking it down makes it easier to read and write. The digit '7' represents billions, '173' represents millions.
This structure helps in efficiently working with large values in mathematics and other fields.