# Fractions on a Number Line

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Fractions on a Number Line
CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.2.A CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.3.NF.A.2.B

## Information about the videoFractions on a Number Line

### Contents

• How to do Fractions on a Number Line (3rd grade)
• How to Put Fractions on a Number Line
• Plotting Fractions on a Number Line Examples
• ### How to do Fractions on a Number Line (3rd grade)

Axel and Tank find a secret map that shows where a hidden door is. To open this door, they must complete two fraction number line puzzles! In order to complete the puzzles, they must first learn about plotting benchmark fractions on a number line 0 to 1. After Axel and Tank learn about putting fractions on a number line, they complete both puzzles and enter the door to find the hidden treasure.

### How to Put Fractions on a Number Line

To represent fractions on a number line, you can follow some simple steps. Fraction bars can help when showing unit fractions on a number line.

Steps to represent fractions on a number line:

• Identify the denominator
• Divide the number line into equal parts
• Count forward from zero the numerator
• Plot the fraction on the number line

### Plotting Fractions on a Number Line Examples

Below are two examples of labelling fractions on a number line. The steps above can be followed to help plot fractions on a number line.

#### Show Fractions on a Number Line Example 1

The fraction is ½. We see the denominator, the bottom number, is two. Using a fraction bar to help us, we can divide the number line into two equal parts.

Now we look at the numerator, the top number. This is a one, so we can count forward one part from the zero.

We have located where ½ is on the number line, so we can plot it at the correct location.

#### Show Fractions on a Number Line Example 2

The fraction is 2/3. We see the denominator, the bottom number, is three. Using a fraction bar to help us, we can divide the number line into three equal parts.

Now we look at the numerator, the top number. This is a two, so we can count forward two parts from the zero.

We have located where 2/3 is on the number line, so we can plot it at the correct location.

Now you understand fractions on a number line, there are fractions on a number line practice problems and fractions on a number line worksheets.

## Fractions on a Number Line Exercise

Would you like to practice what you’ve just learned? Practice problems for this video Fractions on a Number Line help you practice and recap your knowledge.
• ### Describe how to place a fraction on a number line.

Hints

To know how many equal parts to divide the number line into, what do we need to identify first?

After we divide the number line into equal parts, we can count the number of parts from zero.

Solution
1. Identify the denominator.
2. Divide the number line into equal parts.
3. Count the number of parts from zero.
4. Write the fraction on the number line.
• ### Which number line shows $\frac{1}{3}$ placed correctly?

Hints

Identify the denominator (bottom number) and divide the number line into equal parts matching the denominator.

Count the number of parts from 0 shown in the numerator (top number) and place the fraction on the number line.

Solution

Step 1: Identify the denominator, 3.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 3 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{3}$ on the number line.

• ### Match the fraction to the number line.

Hints

Identify the denominator (bottom number) and divide the number line into equal parts matching the denominator.

Count the number of parts from 0 shown in the numerator (top number) and place the fraction on the number line.

Solution

$\mathbf{\frac{3}{4}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 4.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 3 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{3}{4}$ on the number line. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ For the other fractions:
$\mathbf{\frac{1}{2}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 2.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 2 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{2}$ on the number line.

$\mathbf{\frac{3}{3}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 3.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 3 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 3 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{3}{3}$ on the number line.

$\mathbf{\frac{1}{4}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 4.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{4}$ on the number line.

• ### Match the number line with the fraction.

Hints

Identify the denominator and divide the number line into equal parts matching the denominator.

Count the number of parts from 0 shown in the numerator and place the fraction on the number line.

Remember the denominator is the bottom number and the numerator is the top number.

Solution

$\mathbf{\frac{2}{5}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 5.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 5 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 2 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{2}{5}$ on the number line. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ For the other fractions:
$\mathbf{\frac{1}{4}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 4.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{4}$ on the number line.

$\mathbf{\frac{2}{3}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 3.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 3 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 2 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{2}{3}$ on the number line.

$\mathbf{\frac{2}{4}}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 4.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 2 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{2}{4}$ on the number line.

• ### Which number line shows $\frac{1}{2}$ placed correctly?

Hints

Identify the denominator (bottom number) and divide the number line into equal parts matching the denominator.

Count the number of parts from 0 shown in the numerator (top number) and place the fraction on the number line.

Solution

Step 1: Identify the denominator, 2.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 2 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{2}$ on the number line.

• ### Place the fractions on the number line.

Hints

Identify the denominator and divide the number line into equal parts matching the denominator. Then, count the number of parts from 0 shown in the numerator and place the fraction on the number line.

Look at the fractions with the same denominator, but different numerators and place them on the number line.

Look at the fractions with the same numerator, but different denominators. Which piece would be bigger, a piece divided into 4 parts or 3 parts? Whichever one you think is bigger will be closer to 1.

Solution

$\frac{1}{2}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 2.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 2 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{2}$ on the number line.

$\frac{1}{3}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 3.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 3 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{3}$ on the number line.

$\frac{3}{3}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 3.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 3 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 3 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{3}{3}$ on the number line.

$\frac{1}{4}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 4.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 1 part (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{1}{4}$ on the number line.

$\frac{3}{4}$
Step 1: Identify the denominator, 4.
Step 2: Divide the number line into 4 equal parts.
Step 3: Count 3 parts (the numerator) from 0.
Step 4: Place $\frac{3}{4}$ on the number line.