KS2 Maths · Topic guide

Place Value, Negative Numbers and Roman Numerals

Place Value, Negative Numbers and Roman Numerals covers reading, writing, comparing and ordering whole numbers up to 10,000,000, understanding negative numbers and calculating an interval that crosses zero, and reading and writing Roman numerals up to 1000 (M).

Year 3-6 (KS2)Number and place valueNational CurriculumKS2 SATs

Before you start

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Method

  1. Learn the value of each digit in a large number from its position: ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands, hundred thousands, and millions.
  2. To compare two large numbers, compare the digits starting from the highest place value column and work rightwards until the digits differ.
  3. To order several large numbers, line up the digits by place value, adding leading zero placeholders where needed, before comparing them column by column.
  4. Understand that negative numbers sit below zero on a number line, and that moving left through zero makes a number smaller.
  5. To find the difference between a positive and a negative number (or between two negative numbers), count the total distance between them across zero.
  6. Learn the Roman numeral symbols (I = 1, V = 5, X = 10, L = 50, C = 100, D = 500, M = 1000) and the subtraction rule: a smaller symbol placed before a larger one is subtracted from it, e.g. IV = 4 and IX = 9.
  7. Build up a Roman numeral from the largest symbols down to the smallest, or break one down the same way to find its value.

Worked example

The temperature at midnight is -6 degrees C. By midday it has risen by 15 degrees. What is the temperature at midday?

  1. Start at -6 on a number line.
  2. Rising by 15 degrees means moving 15 places in the positive direction.
  3. Moving from -6 up to 0 uses 6 of the 15 degrees.
  4. The remaining 15 - 6 = 9 degrees continues past zero.
  5. So the temperature at midday is 9 degrees C.

Practice questions

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Q1Write the value of the 7 in 3,782,105.Show answer

Answer: 700,000 (seven hundred thousand)

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Q2Order these numbers from smallest to largest: 5,102,300, 5,120,030, 5,099,999Show answer

Answer: 5,099,999, then 5,102,300, then 5,120,030

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Q3What is -4 + 9?Show answer

Answer: 5

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Q4What is the difference between -8 and 5?Show answer

Answer: 13

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Q5Write 1984 as a Roman numeral.Show answer

Answer: MCMLXXXIV

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Q6Write the Roman numeral XLIV as a number.Show answer

Answer: 44

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Exam-style questions

Written in the style of a KS2 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.

Q1[1 mark]

Write these four numbers in order, starting with the smallest: -12, 5, -3, 0.

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Q2[2 marks]

A submarine is at a depth of -85 metres. It rises 60 metres, then dives a further 25 metres. What is its final depth?

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Q3[2 marks]

Write the year 2949 as a Roman numeral.

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Free printable worksheet

Want more practice on paper? Download the place value, negative numbers and roman numerals worksheet pack - 11 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.

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