Skip to main content
Common Core Math4th GradeNumbers in Base Ten

4.NBT.2: Read, Write and Compare Multi-Digit Numbers

Also written as 4.NBT.A.2 and CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.A.2 · Cluster: Generalize place value understanding for multi-digit whole numbers.

Make a 4.NBT.2 WorksheetAll 28 4th Grade Math Standards

The Official Wording

Read and write multi-digit whole numbers using base-ten numerals, number names, and expanded form. Compare two multi-digit numbers based on meanings of the digits in each place, using >, =, and < symbols to record the results of comparisons.

Common Core State Standards, Grade 4, Number & Operations in Base Ten · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What 4.NBT.2 Means in Plain English

Fourth graders move a number between three forms: 305,060 as a numeral, as three hundred five thousand, sixty, and as 300,000 + 5,000 + 60. Zeros are the trap: an empty place still needs its 0 in the numeral and nothing in the words.

To compare, they line the numbers up and check the largest place first: 48,215 > 47,999 because 8 thousands beat 7 thousands. In 5th grade the same reading, writing and comparing extends to decimals to thousandths (5.NBT.3).

4.NBT.2 I Can Statements

  • I can read and write numbers up to a million in words.
  • I can write a multi-digit number in expanded form.
  • I can compare two numbers with >, = and < by place value.

4.NBT.2 Worked Example

A number with a zero in the middle, because that is where reading and writing most often go wrong.

6,078 by place value
6Thousands
0Hundreds
7Tens
8Ones
The hundreds column is empty, so the numeral holds a 0 there and the words skip it. Compare 6,078 with 6,708: the thousands match, then 0 hundreds is less than 7 hundreds, so 6,078 < 6,708.
6,000 + 70 + 8

six thousand, seventy-eight

Common Mistakes with 4.NBT.2

Dropping the zero

“Six thousand, seventy-eight” written as 678

Try this: Have students write the number in a place value chart first, filling every column. An empty hundreds column gets a 0.

Saying every place, even the empty ones

6,078 read as “six thousand, zero hundreds, seventy-eight”

Try this: Read the thousands first, “six thousand,” then read the last three digits, 078, as one number: just seventy-eight.

Comparing by the first digit you see

9,875 > 10,234 because 9 is bigger than 1

Try this: Line the numbers up by the ones place first. 10,234 has a ten-thousands digit and 9,875 does not, so 10,234 is greater.

Where 4.NBT.2 Fits

Comes Before2.NBT.3Read and write numbers to 1000 in numerals, words and expanded form.2.NBT.4Compare two three-digit numbers with >, = and <.
Alongside4.NBT.1Know a digit is worth ten times the same digit one place to its right.4.NBT.3Round multi-digit numbers to any place.
Comes Next5.NBT.3Read, write and compare decimals to thousandths, like 347.392.

Practice 4.NBT.2

Math Worksheet GeneratorFree ToolNumbers up to 1,000,000 given in one form and asked for in another, plus pairs to compare with >, = or <. Include several with zeros inside.Grade 4Number formsCompare
Make a Worksheet

Quick Check

  1. Write 40,305 in words and in expanded form.
  2. Write the numeral for two hundred sixteen thousand, nine.
  3. Compare 52,817 and 52,871 with >, = or <.

4.NBT.2: Other Names

4.NBT.24.NBT.A.2CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.4.NBT.A.2

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.