Topics
5. Fractions
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Australia
Year 4

5.03 Fractions on a number line

Lesson
Practice
Lesson

Are you ready

Let's try this problem to help us remember how to locate a  fraction on a number line  .

Examples

Example 1

Plot \dfrac{1}{10} on the number line.

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Worked Solution
Create a strategy

Start at zero and jump to the right 1 space.

Apply the idea

Since the number line is already divided into 10 spaces, we just need to move right 1 space.

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Idea summary

When plotting a fraction on a number line:

  • the denominator (bottom number) shows how many parts there should be between each whole number.

  • the numerator (top number) shows the number of parts to move to the right from the previous whole number.

Fractions on a number line to represent fractions to tenths and beyond

Let's look at how to plot fractions on a number line.

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Examples

Example 2

Plot \dfrac{4}{3} on the number line.

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Worked Solution
Create a strategy

The space between 0 and 1 on the number line has been divided into 3 equal spaces. Use the fraction bar model to help you count up to \dfrac{4}{3}.

A number line from 0 to 2 divided into 3 equal spaces. Above each spaces is the fraction one-third.
Apply the idea

To plot \dfrac{4}{3}, we can start at zero and jump right 4 spaces.

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Idea summary

The denominator shows how many parts make the whole.

The numerator is the number of parts within this fraction.

A mixed fraction includes a whole number and a fraction.

Outcomes

AC9M4N04

count by fractions including mixed numerals; locate and represent these fractions as numbers on number lines

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