Which of the following is the correct phonetic form to say 13,500 feet?

• A. Thirteen thousand five hundred
• B. One three thousand five hundred
• C. One three five hundred
• D. Thirteen three hundred

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how numbers are spoken over the radio to ensure precise understanding. When reading a value like 13,500 feet, the leading digits are often spoken as a two-digit group before the place-value words, then the units. Saying “one three thousand five hundred” does exactly that: the leading digits form 13 (spoken as “one three”), then you indicate thousands, then you add the hundreds part. This enunciates the magnitude clearly and helps the listener reconstruct the exact value: 13 thousand 500 feet.

This form is chosen to maximize clarity on the radio, reducing the chance that listeners mishear or misinterpret the number. The other phrasings either group the digits differently or omit the digit-by-digit clarity, which can introduce ambiguity in fast or noisy communications.