Fraction on number line || How to represent fraction on number line?

What is Number line?

Number line depicts different numbers in the graphical format.

It is made up of horizontal lines with integers marked in it.

Number line example

We have already learnt marking whole numbers on number line. In this post we will learn to represent fractions on number line.

Representing Fractions on number line

In this post we will learn number line representation of :
(a) Fraction with value less than 1
(b) Mixed Fraction
(c) Fraction with value greater than 1

Number line representation of Fraction with value < 1

Fractions whose denominator is greater than numerator (denominator > numerator) has value less than 1.

In number line, there position always lies between 0 and 1.

In order to mark fraction on number line, follow below steps:

(a) Mark 0 and 1 on number line
(b) Divide the section into as many parts as the denominator. All parts must be equal.
(c) Start from 0 and count the part mentioned by numerator.
(d) Mark the point as it represents the fraction.


Let us understand the steps with examples:

Example 01
Mark \mathtt{\ \frac{1}{2}} on number line

Follow the below steps:

(a) Mark 0 & 1 on number line

Steps to represent fraction on number line

(b) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{1}{2}} , the denominator is 2.
So divide the section into two equal parts.

Fraction on number line

(c) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{1}{2}} , the numerator is 1. So take one hop forward.

Plot fraction on number line

(d) The point A represents fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{1}{2}}

Example 02
Represent \mathtt{\ \frac{4}{6}} on number line

Follow the below steps:

(a) Mark 0 & 1 on number line

Representing fractions on number line

(b) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{4}{6}} , the denominator is 6. Divide the number line into 6 equal parts.

Learn how to plot fractions on number line

(c) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{4}{6}} , the numerator is 4. Take 4 hops forward.

Learn about fractions

(d) The point A represents the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{4}{6}} .

Example 03
Represent \mathtt{\ \frac{5}{11}} on number line

Follow the below steps:

(a) Mark 0 & 1 on number line

Representing fractions on number line

(b) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{5}{11}} , number 11 is the denominator. So divide the line into 11 parts.

Fraction and number line

(c) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{5}{11}} , the numerator is 5. So take 5 jumps towards the right.

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(d) Point A represents the fraction latex] \mathtt{\ \frac{5}{11}} [/latex]

Drawing mixed number on number line

The process of representing mixed number on number line is almost same as the process described above.

The difference is that the mixed number also contain whole number with it. So while finding its position on number line we have to take account of value of the whole number.

Unlike the proper fraction, the position of mixed number will go beyond 1 in number line.

Let us understand with the help of example.

Example 01
Represent \mathtt{4\frac{1}{3}} in number line

Follow the below steps:

(a) In the mixed fraction the whole number part is 4.
So the point lies between 4 and 5.
Mark 4 & 5 on number line and name it AB.

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(b) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{1}{3}} , the denominator is 3. So divide the segment AB into 3 parts.

Plot mixed number on number line

(c) In the fraction \mathtt{\ \frac{1}{3}} , number 1 is the numerator. So take one jump from point A towards right.

How to do fraction on number line

The point Q represents the mixed fraction \mathtt{4\frac{1}{3}}

Example 02
Represent the mixed fraction \mathtt{10\frac{3}{4}} on number line.

Follow the below steps:

(a) In the given mixed fraction \mathtt{10\frac{3}{4}} , number 10 is the whole number. It means that point lies between number 10 and 11.

Mark 10 & 11 on number line and name it AB

Draw fraction on number line


(b) In the fraction \mathtt{10\frac{3}{4}} , number 4 is the denominator. So divide the segment AB into four parts.

Fraction number line

(c) In the fraction \mathtt{10\frac{3}{4}} , number 3 is the numerator, so take 3 jumps from point A towards right.

How to draw fraction on number line

The point Q represents the mixed fraction \mathtt{10\frac{3}{4}} on number line.

Representing fraction with value greater than 1

The fraction whose numerator is greater than denominator (numerator > denominator) has value greater than 1.

Consider the fraction \mathtt{\frac{6}{5}} .

The value of fraction is greater than 1.

In order to represent the fraction on number line, we have to first convert the fraction into mixed number and then use the above method to represent in number line.


Converting \mathtt{\frac{6}{5}} into mixed fraction.

Learn about fractions

Hence fraction \mathtt{\frac{6}{5}} can be written as \mathtt{1\ \frac{1}{5}}

Now represent the mixed number in number line by following below steps:

(a) In the mixed number \mathtt{1\ \frac{1}{5}} , number 1 is the whole number.
Hence the point lies between 1 and 2.

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(b) In the number \mathtt{1\ \frac{1}{5}} , the fraction part contain 5 as denominator.
So divide segment AB into 5 parts.

Example of fraction on number line

(c) In the mixed number, \mathtt{1\ \frac{1}{5}} , the fraction part contain one as numerator.
So take one jump from point A to the right.

Plot fraction on number line

Here point Q is the representation of fraction 6/5.

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