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3.02 Number lines

Lesson

Are you ready?

You should be able to plot positive whole numbers on a number line. Try this question first.

Examples

Example 1

Plot 3 on the number line below.

012345678910
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Identify where the integer 3 is placed on the number line.

Apply the idea

On the number line, we can plot the point in the mark labeled with an 3.

012345678910
Idea summary

We can plot an integer on the number line by drawing a point on the line above that integer.

Number lines

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Examples

Example 2

Graph the integer -5 on the number line.

-10010
Worked Solution
Create a strategy

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

Apply the idea

Negative numbers are to the left of 0 on the number line.

To plot -5, start at 0 and jump back 5 places to the left.

-10010
Idea summary

Negative integers are to the left of zero on the number line, and positive integers are to the right of zero.

Outcomes

MA3-4NA

orders, reads and represents integers of any size and describes properties of whole numbers

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