Representing Numbers 0-99

< 6.13 Non-Decimal Place Value Systems | Topic Index | 7.2 Number Representation - 2-digit numbers(A) >

We have seen how numbers up to 9 can be represented, starting from concrete form gradually becoming more and more abstract. We give below a sequence of representing quantities more than 9 in the same manner. Annexure 037A gives a visual representation of the various ways.

Children should be able to represent numbers from Ten to Ninety-Nine in all these representations. They should be able to match one representation with another.
 * 1) Sound Representation 				First learn to count in bundles using following words– Ten, Twenty, Thirty, Forty &hellip;&hellip;.. NinetyThen learn to count from Ten to Nineteen as these sounds are not logical as sounds of numbers above Twenty (Please see a detailed explanation in the Chapter on Language &amp; Mathematics).Then combine both bundles &amp; sticks while counting. If there are 3 bundles and 4 sticks the counting sequence would be Ten, Twenty, Thirty, Thirty One, Thirty Two, Thirty Three and then Thirty Four.
 * 2) Bundle &amp; Sticks Representation 				Presenting a 2 digit number using bundles &amp; SticksForty Five as 4 Bundles &amp; 5 SticksTwenty as 2 Bundles
 * 3) Finger Representation–Small two digit numbers, less than 55, can be represented with fingers of both hands, with one hand representing Bundles and the other Sticks. (The right hand can be used for bundles &amp; the left for sticks. This way for the observer, the number of bundles would appear on the left as in the written form). In the next chapter we will see how numbers more than 55 can be represented. 				Finger representation will deepen their understanding of Place Value</li>It would also help in mental math by strengthening visualisation (Refer to Chapter on addition skills)</li></ol>
 * 4) Picture Representation – pictures of bundles &amp; sticks or sheets, strips &amp; pieces representing the number.
 * 5) Numeral Representation – 15,23,38,49 etc. Numerals have different shapes which vary from language to language. When a child is learning 2 languages then numbers could be represented with numerals of both languages.
 * 6) Word Representation – One, Two, Three etc. Number words are also written in various ways from language to language. When a child is learning 2 languages then numbers could be written in both languages. 				Following the logic of Place Value, just 30 &ldquo;word cards&rdquo; would be sufficient to build all numbers up to thousand. (Refer to Chapter 042 for details)</li></ol>
 * 7) Arithmetic Representation – 45 as 30+15 or 5 X 9 etc. Arithmetic representation continues up to High School in terms of more complex ways of representing numbers. 				Combining Number Sense with arithmetic representations helps students become fluent in number operations. Eg 34 + 47 can be mentally manipulated as 34 + 40 + 7 -&gt; 74 +6 +1 -&gt; 80 + 1 -&gt; 81</li></ol>
 * 8) Number Line Representation – drawing a number line divided into tens and/or hundreds as required and marking the number as a point on the line

Advantages of a logical number word system

The system of writing numbers with numerals (453, 6808 etc) is now standard all over the world in international science &amp; commerce.

But in terms of number sounds, each language uses different words (One, Ek, Ondru etc). Many of them have different patterns underlying these words which create problems for children trying to remember them.

For example, in Hindi the counting sounds (in equivalent terms) like fifty one, fifty two &hellip;. Until fifty eight. But fifty nine is spoken as sixty less one, followed by sixty. This sudden break in the pattern makes it difficult for children mastering them in their early years. Even numbers from eleven to nineteen are not in the same pattern. Some of them even sound like three ten, four ten etc.

In contrast the Tamil number words are logical even in the numbers from eleven to nineteen. They sound like ten one, ten two, ten three etc right up to ten nine.

Recently many researchers have attributed the competence of Chinese students in math to the logical structure of the number words right from eleven to ninety-nine.

< 6.13 Non-Decimal Place Value Systems | Topic Index | 7.2 Number Representation - 2-digit numbers(A) >