GCSE Maths / Edexcel

Place value and ordering numbers

Read whole numbers correctly, understand the value of each digit, compare numbers, and put numbers in ascending or descending order.

Number and Place ValueFoundationGrades 1 to 4Focused skill

Curriculum path: GCSE Maths > Edexcel > Number > Place value and ordering numbers

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths number: order positive integers, use place value, and interpret numbers in context.

Revision notes

Theory, examples, and quick checks.

Keep the method short, then practise straight away. This note is written for GCSE Maths Edexcel students who need clear working and reliable method marks.

Theory

Place value means the position of a digit tells you its value. In 4826, the 4 means 4000, the 8 means 800, the 2 means 20, and the 6 means 6.

A digit by itself is not enough. The digit 7 could mean 7, 70, 700, or 7000 depending on where it is written.

For whole numbers, the columns from right to left are ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, and millions.

To compare two whole numbers, first look at how many digits they have. A 5-digit number is always bigger than a 4-digit number if both are positive.

If two numbers have the same number of digits, compare from the left. The first different digit decides which number is bigger.

Ascending order means smallest to largest. Descending order means largest to smallest. In Edexcel questions, students often lose marks by using the wrong direction, so circle or underline the command word before ordering.

Key ruleCompare from the left: the first different digit decides the larger whole number.

Worked examples

Value of a digit

What is the value of the digit 6 in 36,418?

  1. Write the place value columns: ten thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens, ones.
  2. In 36,418, the 6 is in the thousands column.
  3. So the digit 6 is worth 6 thousands.

Answer: 6000

Compare two numbers

Which is bigger: 4072 or 3978?

  1. Both numbers have 4 digits, so compare from the left.
  2. The thousands digits are 4 and 3.
  3. 4 thousands is bigger than 3 thousands, so 4072 is bigger.

Answer: 4072

Order whole numbers

Put 809, 98, 1204, 790 in ascending order.

  1. Ascending means smallest to largest.
  2. 98 has only 2 digits, so it is the smallest.
  3. Compare 790 and 809: both have 3 digits, and 7 hundreds is less than 8 hundreds.
  4. 1204 has 4 digits, so it is the largest.

Answer: 98, 790, 809, 1204

Common mistakes

  • Thinking a larger digit always means a larger number, even when the place value is different.
  • Ordering in descending order when the question asks for ascending order.
  • Comparing from the right instead of from the left.
  • Ignoring zeros inside a number, such as treating 4072 like 472.
  • Not using commas or spaces carefully in large numbers, then misreading thousands and hundreds.

Quick exercise

Try these before moving to the exam-style questions.

  1. What is the value of 5 in 54,208?
  2. Which is bigger: 683 or 638?
  3. Put 42, 309, 107, 91 in ascending order.
  4. Put 5600, 5060, 6500, 6050 in descending order.
  5. How many hundreds are in 3,742?
Exam-style questions

Practise the same skill at three levels.

These are original GCSE-style questions with mark schemes, common wrong answers, and AI marking guidance so feedback stays close to exam expectations.

Basic GCSE styleFoundationNon-calculator2 marks

Write the value of the digit 8 in the number 18,604.

place valuedigit valuefoundation number
Standard exam styleFoundationNon-calculator3 marks

Put these numbers in ascending order: 705, 57, 750, 507.

ordering numbersascending orderplace value
ChallengeFoundationNon-calculator4 marks

Amira says 4098 is smaller than 3987 because 3987 has more hundreds. Explain why Amira is wrong.

place value reasoningcompare numbersexplain