Indian and International Number System with Worksheets

This is a comprehensive lesson plan for indian and international number system to grade 4 students.The lesson is designed to make the concepts easy and engage students with activities like quizzes, practice questions, worksheets, visual aids like images, and real-life examples.

Teachers can use this guide as a reference for delivering the concepts to students and engaging them in the classroom with the various questions and examples given in this page.

For parents, there are 12 downloadable practice worksheets that they can use for their kids.

In this learning concept, the students will also learn to

  • Indian System of Numeration

  • International System of Numeration.

  • Key Differences Between the Two Systems


Introduction to Numbers

Numbers are all around us! From counting items to measuring distances or handling money, they are a big part of our daily lives. But did you know that different countries use different ways to group numbers?

The Indian System of Numeration and the International System of Numeration make it easier to read and write big numbers. Let's see how they work!


Indian System of Numeration

What is the Indian System of Numeration?

The Indian System of Numeration is used in India and some South Asian countries. It groups numbers differently from the International System.

In this system, we start with ones, tens, and hundreds, and then move to bigger places like thousands, lakhs, and crores. Numbers are divided into periods, and each period has three digits (except the first one).

The Place Value Chart (Indian System)

Here’s how the place value chart looks in the Indian System:

Image of large numbers - place value chart

In this system:

1 lakh = 100,000

One lakh is written in the place value chart as given below:

L

TTh

Th

H

T

O

1

0

0

0

0

0

10 lakh = 1000000

Ten lakh is written in the place value chart as given below:

TL

L

TTh

Th

H

T

O

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

Let us take a look at some examples 

Example 1: 56,72,324

The number 56,72,324  is written in the place value chart as given below:

TL

L

TTh

Th

H

T

O

5

6

7

2

3

2

4

      

Example 2: 8,94,35,87

The number 8,94,35,87  is written in the place value chart as given below:

TL

L

TTh

Th

H

T

O

8

9

4

3

5

8

7

 

In the Indian System, we use commas differently: the first comma is placed after the three digits from the right, and then every two digits get a comma.

Example 3: Let’s say we have the number 7,56,89,432. 

Here’s how to read it: "Seven Crores, Fifty-Six Lakhs, Eighty-Nine Thousand, Four Hundred Thirty-Two."

 

International System of Numeration

What is the International System of Numeration?

The International System of Numeration is the system used by most countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. It uses different names for large numbers and groups them in thousands, millions, billions, etc.

 

The Place Value Chart (International System)

Here’s how the place value chart looks in the International System:

Image of Large Numbers - Place Value Chart (International System)

When writing numbers, we use commas to separate periods. While reading, we say the digits in each period together with the period's name.

Example:

The number 2363271 is written as 2,363,271 in the International System.

It is read as: two million, three hundred sixty-three thousand, two hundred seventy-one.

Image of large numbers - Successor and Predecessor

Example 3: 1,234,567 (One million, two hundred thirty-four thousand, five hundred sixty-seven)

Example 4: 3,456,789,012 (Three billion, four hundred fifty-six million, seven hundred eighty-nine thousand, twelve)

 

In the International System, commas are placed every three digits from the right.

 

Key Differences Between the Two Systems

Feature

Indian System

International System

Grouping

Group digits in pairs after the first three digits (e.g., lakh, crore)

Groups digits in sets of three (e.g., thousand, million, billion)

Place Names

Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands, Lakh, Crore

Ones, Tens, Hundreds, Thousands, Million, Billion

Commas

The first comma after 3 digits from the right, then every 2 digits

Commas every 3 digits from the right

Example

5,67,23,400 (Five crores, sixty-seven lakh, twenty-three thousand, four hundred)

567,234,000 (Five hundred sixty-seven million, two hundred thirty-four thousand)

 

Why is Understanding Both Important?

In today’s world, we come across both types of systems. For example:

  • When reading the population of countries, you might see it in the International System (e.g., 1.4 billion).

  • But in India, we often hear numbers in lakhs and crores, like the value of properties or the population of cities.

By understanding both systems, you can easily read numbers in different contexts, whether it’s in your country or in international reports.


Fun Facts

  • The Indian System uses the terms lakh and crore, which are unique to this system and are not used in the International System
  • In the International System, billions are used to describe very large numbers, like the population of countries.
  • Both systems are based on place values, but their grouping of digits is what makes them different.


Quiz

1. In the Indian System of Numeration, what comes after "thousand"?

A) Lakh

B) Million

C) Crore

D) Hundred

 

2. How would you write "five lakh" in numbers?

A) 500,000

B) 50,000

C) 5,000

D) 5,000,000

 

3. In the International System of Numeration, which place value comes after "million"?

A) Lakh

B) Billion

C) Crore

D) Thousand

 

4. How would you write "three million" in numbers?

A) 3,000

B) 3,000,000

C) 30,000

D) 300,000

 

5. In the Indian System of Numeration, how is the number 45,67,891 read?

A) Forty-five lakh sixty-seven thousand eight hundred ninety-one

B) Four million five hundred sixty-seven thousand eight hundred ninety-one

C) Forty-five thousand six hundred seventy-eight

D) Forty-five crore six thousand seven hundred eighty-one



Practice Worksheets

Easy Level Worksheets

Intermediate Level Worksheets

Advanced Level Worksheets

 

Explore more resources:

Large Numbers | Pictograph| Bar Graphs | Divisibility of Numbers | Factors and Multiples | Least Common Multiple | Like, Unlike and Ordering of Decimals | Factors and Multiples - Types of Numbers

Things You Have Learned!

  • Indian and International number system - the differences, their importance
  • Place value chart for both the number system
  • Predecessor and Successor of numbers
Share