Numbers in English

Sometimes the information must be extremely accurate, When we deal with numbers, we also use.

a) Decimals, such as 6.43 and we read six point four- three, or 9.02 and we read nine point0 (oh) two. In English we use a point (.) and not a comma (,) for decimals. When the numbers refer to money , £15.30, we say fifteen pounds thirty.

b) Percentages, such as 25% and we read twenty per cent, or 3% and we read three per cent.

c) Fractions : such as 3/8 we read as three eights or 4/9 we read as four ninths.

But look at these: ¼ we read as a quarter, ½ we read as a half, 1/3 we read as a third . As you can see, the top number is read as a cardinal number. The bottom number is read as an ordinal number.

d) The information about years is also read in a spacial way . We say : 1675- sixteen seventy five , or 1984 – nineteen eighty four. But for the millenium we will read the read the year as 2000 two thousand, or 2003 we will read it two thousand and three. Probably form the year 2010onwards, we will say two thousand and ten or maybe twenty ten, which seems more probable if we compare the other dates,e.g. the year1016 is read ten sixteen.

e ) Finally, mathematical symbols are read like this : 4 + 5, four plus five , 7 x 3 , seven times three, 8 – 2, eight minus two, 10 : 5, ten divided by five.

Squares like 5 2 or 8 2 are read like five squared or eight squared. Cubes like 7 3 or 9 3 are read seven cubed or nine cubed.
And the symbol for the squared root is read for instance , √ 4 the squared root of four.

Activity nº 1 : Write in english the following figures:
1. 2/3 _____________________________
2. 12 + 49 __________________________
3. 15 – 12 __________________________
4. 4 2 _____________________________
5. 5 3 _____________________________
6. √ 3 _____________________________
7. 1482 ____________________________
8. 2008 ____________________________
9. 50 % ____________________________
10. 9 % ____________________________
11. 5.12 ____________________________
12. 14.16 ___________________________


Activity nº 2 : Represent the following numbers:

1. three hundred and four
2. twenty –two thousand
3. five thousand minus two hundred
4. thirty six divided by twelve
5. seventy five plus eleven
6. ten times four
7. four hundred and thirteen
8. one squared
9. fifty cubed
10. twenty per cent
11. eighty point six
12. nineteen ninety eight

Activity nº 3 : Match the figures


1. √ 6........................_____ eleven cubed
2. 17º C......................_____ oh three two fivefive six two one
3. 12 m3......................_____ ten and half million
4. Tel: 032-5621.............._____ twelve cubic metre
5. 10,500,000 ................_____ a quarter to six in the morning
6. 5:45 am ..................._____ three times four equals twelve
7. 3 x 4 = 12 ................_____ seventeen degrees centigrade
8. 11 3......................._____ the squared root of six