Ordinal number meaning


What are Ordinal Numbers? Definition, List, Examples, Facts

What are Ordinal Numbers?

Numbers that are used to represent the rank or position of an object or a person are known as ordinal numbers. They are also referred to as positioning or ranking numbers.The sequence of ordinal numbers vary on the parameters that are based on the positions that are defined, such as weight, height, marks, size, etc. Such numbers are also known as ordinals.

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How to Write Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers or ordinals are written using numerals as prefixes and adjectives as suffixes. 

For example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and so on. We can easily identify an ordinal number: it talks about positioning.

So, if we were to say, “Bring me the bottle of jam that is lying on the 4th shelf.”, one would know that the ordinal number here is 4, which informs us about the position of the jam bottle.

The above picture shows different floors of a building. Here, we can use ordinal numbers to define the position of the floors. 

The numbers 1st (first), 2nd (second), 3rd (third), 4th (fourth), 5th (fifth), 6th (sixth), 7th (seventh), 8th (eighth), 9th (ninth) and 10th (tenth) tell us about the positions of various floors in the building. Therefore, all of them are the ordinal numbers. 

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Applications of Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are a great way to talk about the order of something. For example, the order of dates. These numbers are only used when data is provided and the data is to be arranged in order.

For example: Someone who has performed well throughout the year may get the chance to be valedictorian. They would be first in line. But someone who performed well, but was unable to score as much as the person before in various tests and exams, may be second in line to be valedictorian. The person who has not performed well at all, has the least amount of chance. 

The picture given below shows some athletes competing in a 500-m race. We can also use ordinal numbers to define their positions in order to see who the winner and runners-up of the race are. 

Other examples of ordinal numbers are as follows:

  • Jennifer always ranks 2nd in the class.

Here 2nd is the ordinal number that tells you about the position that Jennifer has secured.

  • Jane is standing at the 5th place in the queue. 

Hereby the ordinal number is 5th, we understand Jane’s position in the queue.

  • Jenny came 3rd in the race.

Here, 3rd is the ordinal number which tells you about the place that Jenny has secured in the race.

  • The 10th table is reserved.

Here, the ordinal number 10th refers to the number of table reservations made.

Ordinal Numbers 1

50 list

Ordinal Numbers 51

100 list

Ordinal Numbers v.

Cardinal Numbers

The type of  numbers that are used for counting the number of objects or persons are known as cardinal numbers. This type of numbers are used for representing the cardinality of the number of elements in a set.

Cardinality means to know about the number of elements in a set. 

Cardinal numbers can be the natural numbers that we use while we are counting like one, two, three, four, five and so on.

On the other hand, ordinal numbers are used to determine the rank or position of any object or person. We write ordinal numbers using numbers as prefixes and adjectives as suffixes. 

Let us understand the difference with the help of an example.

Some students were asked to collect marbles. 

Tom collected 1, Jane collected 2, and Clove collected 3 marbles. 

Here the numbers 1, 2, 3 are cardinal numbers as they represent the quantity of marbles. 

Now, the one who scores maximum wins. So, Clove stands 1st, Jane stands 2nd and Tom stands 3rd.

Here the numbers 1st, 2nd and 3rd are ordinal numbers as they represent the position of the students.

Ordinal Numbers v. Nominal Numbers

A set of numbers that are used for labeling certain items or places so that they can be identified easily are known as nominal numbers. Whenever we have to identify an object uniquely, we use nominal numbers. These numbers are not of much use because they are just going to give information about location and not about its quantity, quality, etc. Nominal numbers can be used as area codes, on number plates of vehicles, etc. Operations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division are meaningless on nominal numbers.

For example: In a phone number like 202 588-6500, the number is a nominal number. Even if we apply an operation, it will not give us anything meaningful. 

On the order hand, the ordinal numbers tell us about the rank or position of any object or person. 

For example: Sophia lives in the 34th house on San Pablo Avenue, California.

Fun Fact!

11, 12 and 13 are the only numbers to use a suffix ‘–th’ but all other numbers ending with 1 use ‘–st’, those ending with 2 use ‘–nd’ and those ending with 3 use ‘–rd’.

Solved Examples On Ordinal Numbers

Example 1: Which English alphabet is 12th from the beginning? 

Solution: The alphabet that is 12th from the beginning is L. 

Example 2: Kim, Kethy, Kiah and Kaina are sitting in the line in alphabetical order. What is the position of Kiah from the beginning? 

Solution: According to alphabetical order, the order in which they’re sitting would be: Kaina, Kethy, Kiah, Kim. So, Kiah is at the 3rd position. 

Example 3. Christmas lies on the _____ of December. 

Solution: Christmas lies on the 25th of December.

Practice Problems On Ordinal Numbers

1

Which one of the following denotes an ordinal number?

The vehicle number of Sarah is KL23AB89.

There are 9 apples on the tree.

Catheline came 4th in the drawing competition.

None of these

Correct answer is: Catheline came 4th in the drawing competition.
In the option C, the number 4th is telling about the position of Catheline in the drawing competition.

2

How do you write 51 in ordinal numbers?

51

51st

51th

51rd

Correct answer is: 51st
The ordinal number for 51 for 51st.

3

In the word, “COMPENSATION”, which are the fourth and tenth letters?

M and O

M and N

P and I

E and O

Correct answer is: P and I
The fourth letter is P and the tenth letter is I.

Frequently Asked Questions On Ordinal Numbers

Is 0 an ordinal number?

No, we cannot write 0 as an ordinal number.

What are exceptional ordinal numbers?

Exceptional ordinal numbers are the ordinal numbers that do not end with -th. For example: 1st (first),  2nd (second), 3rd (third), etc.

Who invented ordinal numbers?

Ordinal numbers were invented by Georg Cantor in 1883.

Ordinal Numbers - Meaning, Examples

Ordinal numbers are the numbers that talk about the position of objects. For example, 'The cookies are kept in the 3rd drawer from the top', 'The orange dress is the 7th one from the right', 'The soccer ball is kept in the 3rd carton from the left'. All these sentences have one thing in common - they talk about the positions of the objects. This is the main element in the discussion of ordinal numbers.

1. What are Ordinal Numbers?
2. Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers
3. List of Ordinal Numbers from 1 to 100
4. FAQs on Ordinal Numbers

What are Ordinal Numbers?

An ordinal number is a number that indicates the position or order of something in relation to other numbers, like, first, second, third, and so on. This order or sequence may be according to the size, importance, or any chronology. Let us understand the ordinal numbers with an example. Ten students participated in a contest. Out of them, the top winners were given medals and were ranked as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. In this case, the positions: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are ordinal numbers.

Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers

A cardinal number is a number that denotes the count of any object. Any natural number such as 1, 2, 3, etc., is referred to as a cardinal number, whereas, an ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object. For example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. Now, if we say, 'There are 3 ants and 5 bears'. This is an example of cardinal numbers. However, if we say, 'The position of the runners in the running event is first, second, third, and so on', this represents ordinal numbers. Observe the table given below to note the difference between cardinal numbers and ordinal numbers.

List of Ordinal Numbers from 1 to 100

The list of ordinal numbers from 1 to 100 can be learned easily and is quite helpful for specifying the order of any given object. You can use the combinations from this list to find out the ordinal numbers from 100 onward. Observe the table given below in order to understand how ordinal numbers are written. You might be able to pick up a pattern after referring to the first twenty ordinal numbers.

1st: First 21st: Twenty-First 41st: Forty-First 61th: Sixty-First 81st: Eighty-First
2nd: Second 22nd: Twenty-Second 42nd: Forty-Second 62nd: Sixty-Second 82nd: Eighty-Second
3rd: Third 23rd: Twenty-Third 43rd: Forty-Third 63rd: Sixty-Third 83rd: Eighty-Third
4th: Fourth 24th: Twenty-Fourth 44th: Forty-Fourth 64th: Sixty-Fourth 84th: Eighty-Fourth
5th: Fifth 25th: Twenty-Fifth 45th: Forty-Fifth 65th: Sixty-Fifth 85th: Eighty-Fifth
6th: Sixth 26th: Twenty-Sixth 46th: Forty-Sixth 66th: Sixty-Sixth 86th: Eighty-Sixth
7th: Seventh 27th: Twenty-Seventh 47th: Forty-Seventh 67th: Sixty-Seventh 87th: Eighty-Seventh
8th: Eighth 28th: Twenty-Eighth 48th: Forty-Eighth 68th: Sixty-Eighth 88th: Eighty-Eighth
9th: Ninth 29th: Twenty-Ninth 49th: Forty-Ninth 69th: Sixty-Ninth 89th: Eighty-Ninth
10th: Tenth 30th: Thirtieth 50th: Fiftieth 70th: Seventieth 90th: Ninetieth
11th: Eleventh 31st: Thirty-First 51st: Fifty-First 71st: Seventy-First 91st: Ninety-First
12th: Twelfth 32nd: Thirty-Second 52nd: Fifty-Second 72nd: Seventy-Second 92nd: Ninety-Second
13th: Thirteenth 33rd: Thirty-Third 53rd: Fifty-Third 73rd: Seventy-Third 93rd: Ninety-Third
14th: Fourteenth 34th: Thirty-Fourth 54th: Fifty-Fourth 74th: Seventy-Fourth 94th: Ninety-Fourth
15th: Fifteenth 35th: Thirty-Fifth 55th: Fifty-Fifth 75th: Seventy-Fifth 95th: Ninety-Fifth
16th: Sixteenth 36th: Thirty-Sixth 56th: Fifty-Sixth 76th: Seventy-Sixth 96th: Ninety-Sixth
17th: Seventeenth 37th: Thirty-Seventh 57th: Fifty-Seventh 77th: Seventy-Seventh 97th: Ninety-Seventh
18th: Eighteenth 38th: Thirty-Eighth 58th: Fifty-Eighth 78th: Seventy-Eighth 98th: Ninety-Eighth
19th: Nineteenth 39th: Thirty-Ninth 59th: Fifty-Ninth 79th: Seventy-Ninth 99th: Ninety-Ninth
20th: Twentieth 40th: Fortieth 60th: Sixtieth 80th: Eightieth 100th: Hundredth

Ordinal Numbers 1 to 20

Ordinal numbers from 1 to 20 are different from the rest. After the number 20, a repeated pattern of ordinal numbers can be observed. Ordinal numbers from 1 to 20 can be listed as follows. 1 - First, 2 - Second, 3 - Third, 4 - Fourth, 5 - Fifth, 6 - Sixth, 7 - Seventh, 8 - Eighth, 9 - Ninth, 10 - Tenth, 11 - Eleventh, 12 - Twelfth, 13 - Thirteenth, 14 - Fourteenth, 15 - Fifteenth, 16 - Sixteenth, 17 - Seventeenth, 18 - Eighteenth, 19 - Nineteenth, 20 - Twentieth.

Related Topics

  • Cardinal Numbers
  • Ordinal Numbers Worksheets for Kindergarten
  • Numbers
  • Rational Numbers
  • Prime Numbers
  • Composite Numbers
  • Even Numbers
  • Odd Numbers
  • Real Numbers
  • Natural Numbers
  • Irrational Numbers
  • Counting Numbers

 

Ordinal Numbers Examples

  1. Example 1: What is the 3rd letter in the word: SUMMERS?

    Solution:

    In the given word, SUMMERS, the first letter is 'S'. The second letter is 'U'. Similarly, we count the position of the letters in order, like, first, second, third, and so on which denotes ordinal numbers. So, we can see that the letter 'M' comes in the 3rd position. Therefore, the third letter in the given word is 'M'.

  2. Example 2: Sam, Jenny, Mary, and Jack are standing in a queue in the given order. Who is in the fourth position?

    Solution:

    From the given information, we can say that: Sam is in the first place, Jenny is in the second place, Mary is in the third place, and Jack is in the fourth place. Therefore, Jack is standing in the fourth position. Here, 4th is an ordinal number because it denotes the position of Jack.

  3. Example 3: State true or false with respect to ordinal numbers.

    a.) An ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object.

    b.) Ordinal numbers are written as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and so on.

    Solution:

    a.) True, an ordinal number is a number that denotes the position or place of an object.

    b.) True, ordinal numbers are written as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, and so on.

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Practice Questions on Ordinal Numbers

 

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FAQs on Ordinal Numbers

What Does Ordinal Number mean?

Ordinal numbers are the numbers that specify the position of objects. For example, when we say that the books are kept on the 3rd shelf, here 3rd is an ordinal number. Similarly, first, second, twentieth, fiftieth, and so on are ordinal numbers.

What is the Difference Between Cardinal and Ordinal Numbers?

Cardinal numbers denote the count of any object. For example, natural numbers like 1, 2 3, and so on are cardinal numbers. On the other hand, ordinal numbers denote the position or place of an object. For example, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and so on, are ordinal numbers.

How to Write Dates with Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers are used to mention the dates in English. For example, if we need to write the date of Christmas, we write the month and then the ordinal number of the day. In this case, we say that Christmas is on December 25th. Here, 25th is an ordinal number.

Is Zero an Ordinal Number?

No, 0 cannot be considered an ordinal number. Specifying the position of anything as 0th or zeroth does not give a logical explanation.

How to Write Ordinal Numbers?

Ordinal numbers have a suffix added at the end. They can be written as first, second, third, and so on when expressed in words. When ordinal numbers are expressed as numerals, the last two letters of the words are added to the respective numbers, like, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on.

Why do we use Ordinal Numbers?

We use ordinal numbers for specifying the position or order of something. For example, the pens are kept in the 3rd drawer from the top, or, Ria stays on the second floor of the apartment. Here, the respective numbers specify the position or order of the object or people, whatever the case may be.

What are Ordinal Numbers From 1 to 10?

The ordinal numbers from 1 to 10 are as follows: 1st: First, 2nd: Second, 3rd: Third, 4th: Fourth, 5th: Fifth, 6th: Sixth, 7th: Seventh, 8th: Eighth, 9th: Ninth, and 10th: Tenth.

What is the Ordinal Number of 1?

The ordinal of 1 is written as First. In the numeral form, it is represented as 1st.

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Worksheets on Ordinal Numbers

Meaning, Definition, Suggestions . What is serial number

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Options | Examples

The meaning of the word "ORDINAL"

Indicating a place in some. a row that answers the question: which one is in a row?.

See all meanings of the word ORDINAL

Meaning of the word "NUMBER"

The ordinal number of an object in a series of other homogeneous ones.

See all meanings of NUMBER

Sentences with serial number

?

A free-form description of the profile position and an indication of a reference number, such as a serial number, that identifies a particular profile position.

Item number, sir?

I didn't always have a serial number.

If I can enlarge the image enough to read the serial number...

What explains its serial number On the evening show

This may include information about engine and transmission installation or selection options, but is often a simple serial number.

The smallest of these is its initial serial number.

On the transmit side, the data link layer generates an incrementing sequence number for each outgoing TLP.

On the receive side, the LCRC and the received TLP sequence number are checked at the link layer.

If the received TLP passes the LCRC check and has the correct sequence number, it is considered valid.

In such cases, the form contains a hidden field with the original content of the entry, a timestamp, a sequence number, or an opaque marker.

The serial number of the year in the 19-year cycle is called its golden number.

Again, we have a distinction between spoken and written English - definitely a serial number for spoken, but not for written - there are usually exceptions, I'm sure!

TCP uses a sequence number to identify each byte of data.

The sequence number of the first byte is chosen by the transmitter for the first packet that is marked SYN.

Impersonating another IP address was not difficult until RFC 1948, when the initial sequence number was easily guessed.

That's why the starting sequence number is now chosen randomly.

The coordinator first assigns a sequence number to each operation and then propagates this operation to all replicas.

Other results

Items that compare equal get the same ranking number, which is the average of what they would have if they were ranked ordinally.

In addition to the serial number, each dimension can be given a selection mode.

Yes, look, teleon numbers.

On the day I arrived in Babylon, it did not yet have a serial number.

All serial numbers of days and weeks during the year are also permanently recorded.

There is no simple algorithm to determine if a year has 53 weeks from its serial number alone.

Specific serial numbers vary depending on the policy of the local municipality.

More complex formats such as week numbers and ordinal days are not allowed.

In this numbering scheme, sequence numbers start at a negative value, increase until they reach zero, and then loop endlessly through a finite set of positive numbers.

Sequence numbers refer to position in the row.

Sequence numbers allow receivers to discard duplicate packets and reorder reordered packets correctly.



This page provides the definition (meaning) of the phrase / expression "serial number", as well as synonyms, antonyms and sentences, if they are available in our database. We strive to make the English-Grammar.Biz explanatory dictionary, including the interpretation of the phrase / expression "serial number", as correct and informative as possible. If you have suggestions or comments about the correctness of the definition of "serial number", please write to us in the "Feedback" section.

DATEVALUE function - Microsoft Support

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This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the DATEVALUE function in Microsoft Excel.

Description

Function DATEVALUE converts a date that is stored as text into a serial number that Excel recognizes as a date. For example, the formula =DATEVALUE("1/1/2008") returns the number 39,448, which corresponds to January 1, 2008. However, be aware that depending on your computer's date settings, the results of function DATEVALUE may differ from those shown in this example.

Function DATEVALUE is useful when a worksheet contains dates in text format that you want to filter, sort, or format as dates, or use in date calculations.

For a date to be formatted as a date, you must apply a date format to the cell. Links to more information about displaying numbers as dates can be found in Section See Also.

Syntax

DATEVALUE(date_as_text)

The DATEVALUE function has the following arguments.

  • Date_as_text Required argument. Text that represents a date in Excel date format, or a cell reference with that text. For example, "01/30/2008" and "Jan 30-2008" are quoted text strings representing dates.

    When using the default date system in Microsoft Excel For Windows, the date_text argument must represent a date between January 1, 1900 and December 31, 9999. Function DATEVALUE returns #VALUE! error value if the value of the date_text argument falls outside this range .

    If the year is omitted from date_as_text , function DATEVALUE uses the current year from the computer's internal clock. Time information in argument date_as_text are ignored.

Notes

  • Excel stores dates as sequential numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, January 1, 1900 is number 1, and January 1, 2008 is 39448, because the interval between these dates is 39,447 days.

  • Most functions automatically convert dates to numeric format.

Example

Copy the sample data from the following table and paste it into cell A1 of a new Excel worksheet. To display formula results, select them and press F2 followed by ENTER. Change the width of the columns, if necessary, to see all the data.

Data

11

3

2011

Formula

Description

Result

=DATEVALUE("08/22/2011")

Serial number of the date entered as text.

40777

=DATEVALUE("22-May-2011")

Serial number of the date entered as text.

40685

=DATEVALUE("23.02.2011")

Serial number of the date entered as text.

40597

=DATEVALUE("July 5")

Sequence number of the date represented as text using date system 1900; the computer's built-in clock returns 2011 as the year.


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