Numbers are used to describe the amount of things. We can express numbers in words, by hand gestures or in writing, using symbols or numerals. When we talk about a number we use words (‘five’) rather than the numeral (5), but when we write we use both words and numerals.
Numbers can describe how many objects there are or their position among lots of objects, such as 1st or 5th for example. Other types of numbers describe how many units of something there are, for example how many kilograms (weight) or metres (length).Numbers are just a convenient way to describe ideas.
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