Topics
6. Decimals
topic badge
AustraliaNSW
Stage 2

6.03 Decimals on number line

Lesson
Practice
Lesson

Are you ready?

Remember when we used a  number line to order whole numbers  ? Let's practice.

Examples

Example 1

Plot the following numbers on the number lines:

a

Plot 3 on the number line below.

012345678910
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the fact that each space on the number line represents an increase of 1 unit.

Apply the idea

To plot 3, we can start at zero and jump right 3 spaces.

012345678910
b

Plot 528 on the number line below.

520525530
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the fact that each space on the number line represents an increase of 1 unit.

Apply the idea

528 is 3 more than 525.

To plot 528 we can start at 525 and jump right 3 spaces.

520525530
c

Plot 700 on the number line below.

05001000
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Use the fact that each space on the number line represents an increase of 100 units.

Apply the idea

700 is 200 more than 500.

To plot 700 we can start at 500 and jump right 2 spaces.

05001000
Idea summary

To plot a number on a number line we must consider how many units each space between ticks represents.

Number lines with tenths

When we divide 1 unit into 10 equal pieces, it is broken into 10 tenths, as shown below.

Two number lines showing units and tenths. Ask your teacher for more information.

This video looks at how to plot and read tenths on a number line.

Loading video...

Examples

Example 2

Plot 0.3 on the number line.

01
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

The number line is divided into 10 spaces between 0 and 1. So each space represents 1 tenth.

Apply the idea

We need to move 3 tenths spaces from 0 to plot 0.3. So we jump to the right 3 spaces.

01
Idea summary

When we divide 1 unit into 10 equal pieces, it is broken into 10 tenths.

Number lines with hundredths

When we divide 1 unit into 100 equal pieces we end up with hundredths. We can also get the size of 1 hundredth by dividing 1 tenth up into 10 equal pieces, as shown below.

Two number lines showing tenths and hundredths. Ask your teacher for more information.

This video looks at how to plot and read hundredths off a number line.

Loading video...

Examples

Example 3

What number is shown on the following number line?

00.1
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Count the number of spaces starting from 0 up to the point.

Apply the idea

The number line between 0 and 0.1 has been divided into 10 spaces, so each space represents a hundredth or 0.01.

The point is 7 spaces from 0. So, 7 \times 0.01 is 0.07.

The number shown on the number line is 0.07.

Idea summary

10 hundredths make 1 tenth. The larger the number, the further to the right it will be on a number line.

Outcomes

MA2-7NA

represents, models and compares commonly used fractions and decimals

What is Mathspace

About Mathspace