Every number can be shown in three different ways — and they all mean the same thing:

• the numeral, the digit we write: 7
• the number word, the name we say: “seven”
• the quantity, that many things: ●●●●●●●

Once you can count a group of things, you can give that group a name and a written symbol. The numeral 7, the word “seven”, and seven dots are just three outfits for one idea: how many.

Watch them line up. Each time you press play we pick a new number, count out that many dots, write its numeral, and say its word aloud — so you can see all three match.

Khan Academy shows how to write numbers in words here: