← A Number's True Size · Lesson 3 of 4
Big numbers per person
A billion is hard to picture. Dividing a big total by the number of people it is spread across often makes it ordinary.
Three billion dollars across 330 million people is about $9 each. The same total can be a fortune for one town and loose change for a country.
Before you react to a big number, ask: per what? Per person, per year, per household?
A programme costs $3 billion, spread across 330 million people. About how much is that per person?
A lesson is kept once you've answered the question and written at least 8 words. Nobody grades it; it stays on this device.