Knowledge Organiser: Place Value and Ordering
Part of Place Value & Ordering · GCSE GCSE Mathematics revision
This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser: Place Value and Ordering within Place Value & Ordering for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Place Value & Ordering in Number for GCSE Mathematics with 13 exam-style questions and 22 flashcards. This topic appears less often, but it can still be a useful differentiator on mixed-topic papers. It is section 13 of 13 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 13 of 13
Practice
13 questions
Recall
22 flashcards
Knowledge Organiser: Place Value and Ordering
Key Terms
- Place value: The value of a digit based on its position in a number
- Decimal point: Separates whole numbers (left) from decimal parts (right)
- Placeholder zero: A zero that holds a column but has no value itself
- Tenths: First decimal place — one tenth of one unit
- Significant figure: A digit that carries meaning in the precision of a number
- Inequality: A statement showing one value is greater or less than another
Must-Know Facts
- Each column is 10× bigger than the column to its right
- 0.8 = 0.80 but 0.8 and 0.08 are very different values
- Negative numbers closer to zero are bigger (−2 > −5)
- To order decimals: line up decimal points, add zeros, compare left to right
- Leading zeros (0.0067) are NOT significant figures
- Arrow in < or > always points to the smaller number
- ≤ means less than or equal to; ≥ means greater than or equal to
Key Methods
- Value of a digit: identify its column, multiply digit × column value
- Ordering decimals: pad with zeros so all have same length, then compare digit by digit
- Writing large numbers: split into thousands group + remainder
- Counting significant figures: start from first non-zero digit
Common Mistakes
- 0.8 vs 0.08: Students confuse these — always compare digit by digit after aligning decimal points
- Ordering negatives: Writing −5 > −2 is wrong; on a number line, −2 is further right so −2 > −5
- Significant figures of leading zeros: In 0.0067, the zeros are NOT significant — count from the first non-zero digit
- Inequality direction: Forgetting which way < and > point — the arrow always points to the smaller number
- Place value columns: Confusing hundredths with hundreds — read column name carefully
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Practice Questions for Place Value & Ordering
What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 47,362?
Write these numbers in order from smallest to largest: -3.2, 0.8, -1.5, -3.25, 0
Quick Recall Flashcards
13 questions on Place Value & Ordering — practise free
Instant marking, adaptive difficulty, and 22 spaced repetition flashcards. Free until your GCSEs.
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