On a number line, the distance from zero shows the value of a number.
612 is between 610 and 620.
The difference between 612 and 610 is 2, and the difference between 612 and 620 is 8. So, 612 is closer to 610 than 620.
This means that when 612 is plotted on a number line, it is between 610 and 620, but it is closer to 610.