Fractions on Number Lines - v1 - mikkadamia
Fractions on a Number Line
Overview
Placing fractions and mixed numbers on number lines.
Fractions on Number Lines (0-1)
Watch this video. It will briefly review fractions and introduce you to placing them on a number line.
Activity 1
Notice that different fractions (like different numbers) fall onto a number line at different places, showing that one fraction is greater than the other. You’ll recall from a previous lesson that numbers that are greater than a certain number are to the right of it, and those that are lesser are to the left. 4/5 is greater than 1/3 because it falls to the right of 1/3 on the number line. Just like 5 is greater than 3 because it falls to the right of 3 on the number line.
Activity 1: Tell a story (video, pictures, written) in which fraction are placed in order from least to greatest and/ or greatest to least.
Fractions on Number Lines (Mixed Numbers)
In the video you watched at the beginning of this lesson, it showed positive fractions as greater than 0 but less than 1. But what if we add a whole number in front the fraction? Such as 3 3/4? We know that 3 is greater than 1, so 3 3/4 can not fall on the number line between 0 and 1. Where does it go? Let’s take the whole number first - 3. We know where 3 falls on the number line, between 2 and 4.
0—1—2—3—4—5—6
When 3 3/4 is said aloud. It is said, “three and three fourths.” We can recall that the word “and” in math means add. We can also recall that when adding on a number line, we move to the right. So, from our position on the number line we are going to move 3/4 to the right. This will place us closer to 4 than to 3. (Notice in 3 to 4 number line found in resources.)
Activity 2
Activity 2: Create at least five mixed numbers using a creative method of your choice (make a model). Once you have created your five mixed numbers, place them on a number line. Be as creative as you can.
Fractions on Number Lines - Conclusion
Today we learned about placing fraction on number lines. Whether they we by themselves or combined with whole numbers to make mixed numbers. All numbers have a place on a number line!