Is the value of the first 5 in California’s population 10 times as great as the value of the second 5

Is the value of the first 5 in California’s population 10 times as great as the value of the second 5

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

Answer:
Yes, the value of the first 5 in California’s population is 10 times as great as the value of the second 5.


Explanation

To understand this, we need to look at place value in a multi-digit number. Let’s assume California’s population is written as:

39,554,000

Here, there are two fives in the number 39,554,000. Let’s identify the place value of each:

  • The first 5 is in the hundred thousands place.
  • The second 5 is in the ten thousands place.

Now let’s assign each digit its value:

  • The first 5 is in the hundred thousands place, so its value is: 5×100,000=500,0005 \times 100,000 = 500,0005×100,000=500,000
  • The second 5 is in the ten thousands place, so its value is: 5×10,000=50,0005 \times 10,000 = 50,0005×10,000=50,000

Now, compare the two:500,00050,000=10\frac{500,000}{50,000} = 1050,000500,000​=10

This means the first 5 is 10 times as great in value as the second 5.

This is a fundamental concept in the base-10 number system, where each place to the left is 10 times greater than the one to its right. This property allows us to quickly determine relationships between digits based on their position in a number.

Understanding this relationship helps with number sense and is critical in developing more advanced math skills like multiplication, division, and estimation. It also shows how a digit like 5 can represent completely different values depending on its position in the number.

So, in conclusion, yes, the first 5 has 10 times the value of the second 5 because of their respective positions in the number.

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