International Number System

Numbers are represented using the international number system, which divides them into groups or periods. These periods or groups aid us in accurately reading large numbers. Unlike the Indian Number System, the international number system uses commas for demarcation between digits. The international number system uses the following periods: ones, thousands, millions, etc. These periods are further subdivided into groups. To learn about the international number system’s period system, refer to the table below. 

In mathematics, an international place value chart is a table that calculates the value of each digit in a number according to its location using the international number system. The place value of a number determines the value of each digit according to its position. The place value of a digit is the position of a number.


The place value chart helps in finding the place values and matches each digit to its corresponding position in a number. It is very useful for reading, writing, and understanding large numbers. In order to prevent confusion when reading very large figures, we divide them into groups using a comma.
 

• Ones Period: This is the first period consisting of ones, tens, and hundreds place. 
  
   
• Thousands Period: This is the second period consisting of thousands, ten thousands, and a hundred thousands.
  
   
• Millions Period: This period consists of millions, ten millions, and a hundred millions.
   

The positioning of the separators (commas) is crucial in the international number system. These separators are based on the periods of any integer and its place values. The fundamental guideline for the international number system is as follows:

• There is no pluralization of the periods when writing numbers in words. For instance, four hundred fifty-six thousand eight hundred seventy-six is always written as 456,876. The ‘s’ is not added to the words thousand or hundred. 
  
   
• The word 'and' is never used before tens and ones. For example, 3535 is always read as three thousand five hundred thirty-five. We do not read it as three thousand and five hundred thirty-five.
  
   
• In expanded form, numbers are written as the sum of place values. For example, 3535 is always written as three thousand five hundred thirty-five. We do not write it as three thousand, five hundred, thirty-five.
   

The international number system is widely used in real life for various purposes. Here are some examples:

• Global Trade and Economy: Countries use the system to express large amounts of money, such as national budgets, GDP (Gross Domestic Product), and international trade values (e.g., $1,500,000 = 1.5 million dollars). 
  
   
• Population Counting: World population statistics follow the international number system. For example, the world’s population is approximately 8,100,000,000 (8.1 billion people).
  
   
• Science and Astronomy: NASA uses the system to measure large distances, such as  the distance between Earth and Mars (about 225,000,000 km).