Problem 46 - Fundamentals of Mathematics

Question

Write "four billion eight" using digits.

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

4,000,000,008

Step 1: Understanding large numbers

We need to write the given number 'four billion eight' using digits. A billion is a large number and equals to \(1,000,000,000\). Therefore, four billion is equal to \(4\times 1,000,000,000\).

Step 2: Writing four billion in digits

To write 'four billion' in digits, we calculate \(4 \times 1,000,000,000\), which results in \(4,000,000,000\).

Step 3: Incorporating the eight

The number 'eight' means we add 8 after the billion digits without any digits in between since it's in the units place. Thus, add 8 to \(4,000,000,000\), making it \(4,000,000,008\).

Key Concepts

billion

A billion is a huge number. It's larger than a million by a thousand folds. When we talk about a billion, we mean a thousand million, which equals to 1,000,000,000. Imagine having a jar and putting one marble inside each second. It would take about 31.7 years to reach a billion marbles! Understanding the magnitude of a billion is essential when dealing with large numbers. In our example, "four billion" means we take the original unit of one billion and multiply it by four. This gives us a digit representation of 4,000,000,000. The number grows swiftly, showing the enormity of dealing with billions.

writing numbers in digits

Converting words into digits might seem daunting at first, but it's a handy skill to grasp. For example, if we take the words "four billion eight", we need to translate them step by step into digits.

• First, recognize the word 'four' relates to the number 4.
• The word 'billion' tells us to multiply that 4 by 1,000,000,000, resulting in 4,000,000,000.
• The word 'eight' indicates that we simply add 8 to that large number, rounding off our result.

Thus, we transform the complete phrase "four billion eight" into the digits 4,000,000,008. Writing numbers in digits helps in creating clear and concise representations of large numbers.

place value

Place value forms the basis of our number system and helps us understand where each digit sits in forming a number. Imagine each digit as a family member sitting on a different rung on a ladder.

• The "billion" place is nine rungs from the right. It's like the grandparent of the group, holding a huge value.
• The "ten million", "million", "hundred thousand", "ten thousand", "thousand", "hundred", "ten", and "unit" places follow.

Each place has a power of ten associated with it. For instance, our number in the form 4,000,000,008, shows 4 in the billion place. The place value dictates what multiply of 10 each digit stands for. By recognizing the position of '8' in the units place, we understand it simply adds 8 without moving any value further up the place scale. Thus, place value let's us keep numbers ordered and ensures each digit holds its right amount of worth.