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The number 5 compared with the text "5"

Text, not a number. Quote marks turn the digit 5 into text, so 5 + 5 makes 10 but "5" and "5" joined make "55". Phone numbers are text too.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Representing Data with Numbers — Module 41

Understanding The number 5 compared with the text "5" in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: The quote marks around the 5 show the computer to treat it as text, not as a number to calculate with. Phone numbers are labels, not amounts. Storing them as text keeps the leading 0 and stops them being used in sums. Numbers are added together, so 5 + 5 makes 10. Joining text sticks the characters side by side, so "5" and "5" make "55". It does not add them. Spreadsheets line numbers up on the right. Text lines up on the left.

Common mistakes: joined holds the text "55" because a and b are text in quote marks. You cannot subtract from text. The line should just be print(joined). A phone number is text, so it needs quote marks. Without them the computer treats it as a number and drops the leading 0. It should be phone = "0412345678".

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 85–104) and word search (Modules 73–104).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

Which one is the NUMBER 5 and not text?

"5"5

Matches

"5" + "5" gives 10

↓

Quote marks make these text, so they are joined to make "55", not added to make 10.

Applying

Meanings

Term

"5"

Meaning

Text, not a number. Quote marks turn the digit 5 into text, so 5 + 5 makes 10 but "5" and "5" joined make "55". Phone numbers are text too.

Practice

=B2+C2&" vs "&B2&C2

Testing

Gaps

print(5 5)

Check Answer

Spots

3joined = a + b

4print(joined - 1)

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is the NUMBER 5 and not text?

A. 5 ✓

B. "5"

Quote marks turn a digit into text. 5 with no quote marks is a number you can calculate with.

2. Which one is TEXT?

A. 7

B. "7" ✓

The quote marks around 7 tell the computer it is text, not a number.

3. What is 5 + 5 when both are numbers?

A. 10 ✓

B. 55

Numbers are added together, so 5 + 5 makes 10.

4. What do you get when you join the text "5" and the text "5" together?

A. "55" ✓

B. 10

Joining text sticks the characters side by side, so "5" and "5" make "55". It does not add them.

5. In a spreadsheet, which way does a number like 5 line up in its cell?

A. To the left

B. To the right ✓

Spreadsheets line numbers up on the right. Text lines up on the left.

Match the Pairs

5 + 5 → Adds two numbers together to give the number 10.

"5" + "5" → Joins two pieces of text together to make the text "55".

Quote marks around a digit turn it into text, so it is no longer a number. → "5"

A phone number should be stored as text, because you never add phone numbers together. → phone = "0412345678"

"5" + "5" gives 10 → Quote marks make these text, so they are joined to make "55", not added to make 10.

A spreadsheet cell holds the text "5", so it lines up on the right like a number. → Text lines up on the left in a spreadsheet. Only numbers line up on the right.

Key Term

"5"

Text, not a number. Quote marks turn the digit 5 into text, so 5 + 5 makes 10 but "5" and "5" joined make "55". Phone numbers are text too.

Fill in the Blanks

1. print(5 + 5)

Hint: Type the operator that adds two numbers together.

2. print("5" + "5") # shows 55

Hint: Type what you see when two pieces of text are joined side by side.

3. phone = "0412345678" # A phone number is text

Hint: Type the data type a phone number is stored as, because you never calculate with it.

4. A1: 5 aligns right A2: "5" aligns left

Hint: Type the side of the cell where text lines up in a spreadsheet.

5. print(5 + 5) # shows 10

Hint: Type the number you get when you calculate with two numbers.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A a = "5"

B b = "5"

C joined = a + b

D print(joined - 1)

Line D — joined holds the text "55" because a and b are text in quote marks. You cannot subtract from text. The line should just be print(joined).

Question 2

A name = "Sam"

B age = 11

C print(name)

D phone = 0412345678

Line D — A phone number is text, so it needs quote marks. Without them the computer treats it as a number and drops the leading 0. It should be phone = "0412345678".

Question 3

A x = 5

B y = 5

C total = "5" + "5"

D print(total)

Line C — Quote marks make "5" text, so adding them joins them into "55" instead of making 10. The line should be total = x + y to add the numbers.

Question 4

A count = 5

B total = count + "5"

C print(total)

Line B — count is a number, but "5" in quote marks is text. You cannot add a number and text. The line should be total = count + 5.

Question 5

A A1: 5

B A2: 5

C A3: =A1&A2

D A4: shows 10

Line C — The & sign joins things together, so it would show 55. To add the numbers and get 10, use A3: =A1+A2.

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