Write the Smallest and the Largest Six-Digit Numbers. How Many Numbers are Between These Two Values?

Answer: The smallest six-digit number is 100,000, and the largest six-digit number is 999,999. In mathematics, six-digit numbers are those that range from 100,000 to 999,999. To understand how many numbers lie between these two values, we simply need to calculate the difference between them. The range of six-digit numbers is the difference between the largest six-digit number (999,999) and the smallest six-digit number (100,000). 

Complete Calculation: 

999,999 – 100,000 = 899,999.

This tells us there are 899,999 numbers between 100,000 and 999,999. However, it’s essential to clarify that this range includes both the smallest number (100,000) and the largest number (999,999), so the total count of numbers in the range is 900,000.

A six-digit number consists of six digits, with the first digit ranging from 1 to 9 (it can’t be 0 because that would make it a five-digit number). The remaining five digits can range from 0 to 9. For example:

The smallest six-digit number: 100,000
The largest six-digit number: 999,999

In total, there are 900,000 possible six-digit numbers, from 100,000 all the way to 999,999.

Key Insight

1. Positional Value: The first digit of a six-digit number cannot be zero, making 100,000 the smallest six-digit number.

2. Counting the Numbers: The 900,000 count includes both the smallest and largest six-digit numbers. If you want to know how many numbers are *between* 100,000 and 999,999, you subtract the two values: 999,999 – 100,000 = 899,999.

3. Applications in Real Life: Six-digit numbers appear in real-world contexts such as population counts, large financial figures, or specific measurements in science and engineering.

The smallest six-digit number is 100,000, and the largest is 999,999. The total number of six-digit numbers, including both endpoints, is 900,000. When counting just the numbers between these two values, we find there are 899,999 numbers. Understanding the range of six-digit numbers helps students develop a solid foundation in number sense and prepares them for more complex mathematical concepts.