This is a common question for those learning about numbers, counting, and the number system we use every day. After the number 999 comes the number 1000, which starts the series of numbers called “thousands” in English. Let’s take a closer look at what comes after 999 and how our number system is structured.
The Basics of Counting Numbers
Numbers are used to represent quantities – to count things and specify amounts. The numbers used for counting are called the “counting numbers” or natural numbers. These include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on.
When counting, we start with 1 and go up sequentially, adding 1 each time to get to the next number. So after 1 comes 2, after 2 comes 3, and so on. This pattern continues infinitely as we count higher and higher.
In the English number system we group numbers into sets of three digits to make large numbers easier to read and write. After the number 9 comes the number 10, which starts the “teens” series from 10 to 19. After 19 comes 20, starting the “tens” series 20 to 99.
Hundreds, Thousands, Millions, and Billions
After counting up through the “tens”, we run out of single digit numbers and reach 100. This starts counting by “hundreds” – so 101 comes after 100, 150 after 149, and so on up to 999.
The next set after the “hundreds” is the “thousands”. 1,000 comes after 999, starting this new numbering series. Here is how the progression looks:
- 1 to 9 are the “ones” digits
- 10 to 99 are the “tens” digits
- 100 to 999 are the “hundreds” digits
- 1,000 and above are the “thousands” digits
So after 999 comes 1,000, the start of the thousands series. Then comes 1,001, 1,002, and so on. After 9,999 comes 10,000, starting the five digit numbers.
This pattern continues as the numbers get larger. After 999,999 (the hundreds of thousands) comes 1,000,000, starting the millions. Then billions, trillions, and so on with new names for each group of three digits added.
Why Do We Group Numbers by Thousands?
Using groups of three digits makes large numbers easier to read, write, and understand. Trying to read a long string of digits is difficult, but separating them into groups of three gives the eyes and brain smaller pieces to recognize.
Some key advantages of grouping numbers by thousands include:
- More compact – easier to write and display large numbers
- More readable – groups of three digits are quicker to read
- Scalable – can add more groups as numbers get larger
- Understandable – gives a better sense of the number’s actual size
The Indian mathematician Pingala is credited with first discussing grouping numbers based on powers of 10 as early as the 2nd or 3rd century BCE. But the system became popular worldwide after the publication of the Hindu-Arabic numeral system in 1202 CE.
Other Number Systems
While many cultures use the thousands-based grouping system, there are other number systems as well. For example:
- Chinese and Japanese numbering groups digits by 10,000 instead of 1,000.
- Ancient Romans used groupings of 5,000 and 10,000 for large numbers.
- Mayans used groupings of 20s rather than 10s in their vigesimal numbering system.
The key advantage of grouping numbers by thousands is that it scales well for increasingly large numbers thanks to its base 10 foundation. Other groupings are less systematic and flexible for working with very large numbers.
What Comes After 999,999?
If we continue the sequence beyond 999, we get:
- 999
- 1,000
- 1,001
- 1,002
- …
- 9,999
- 10,000
Next comes 10,001, 10,002, and so on up to 99,999. After that:
- 99,999
- 100,000
Then the sequence continues to 999,999. After that comes 1,000,000, starting the millions!
Examples of Large Numbers
Let’s look at some examples of large numbers to see groupings of thousands in action:
| Number | Name |
|---|---|
| 1,000 | One thousand |
| 20,000 | Twenty thousand |
| 307,000 | Three hundred seven thousand |
| 999,999 | Nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine |
| 1,000,000 | One million |
| 1,000,000,000 | One billion |
| 999,999,999,999 | Nine hundred ninety-nine billion, nine hundred ninety-nine million, nine hundred ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred ninety-nine |
This shows how we can continue adding groups of three digits as needed to represent large quantities and counts.
Other Examples of What Comes After 999
Here are some additional examples of numbers that come after 999:
- Page 1,000 in a book comes after page 999
- 1,003 birds spotted comes after counting 999 birds
- $1,005 in a bank account comes after $999
- The 1,001st visitor arrives after the 999th visitor
In each case, the count or quantity increments up from 999 to the next thousand to represent the next numeric value.
Conclusion
So in summary, after 999 comes 1,000, the start of the “thousands” digits in our base 10 numbering system. Understanding that numbers are grouped into sets of three digits (thousands, millions, billions, etc.) is key to knowing what comes after 999 or any other sequence of three digits.
Counting sequentially from 1 and adding groups of thousands allows us to represent quantities precisely and generate ever larger numbers. The pattern continues indefinitely, so there is no limit to the numbers that can be expressed this way.
While we read numbers digit-by-digit, organizing them into groups of thousands makes it much easier to comprehend, communicate, and work with large values. So the next time someone asks you what comes after 999, you’ll know it’s the beginning of the thousands!