For students starting out with calculations, number line can be very helpful to understand mathematical manipulations. In this post we will share you definition of number line and the method to perform various calculation using the tool.
Number Line Definition
Number line is basically a tool with the help of which you can represent the number in graphical or image form.
This tool is used to make student understand the concept of numbers.
In the number line we draw a line and mark the line with various numbers.
You can also think number line as a ruler where all the number is mentioned and which help you to find the length of any object.
From the above image we can see that we started the counting from 0 and as we move right the number starts increasing. Thus we can say that as we move towards right the number starts increasing in the line.
From just observing the line we can easily tell that number 7 is greater than number 4 just because 7 is at the right of number 4.
Space between the numbers
The space between numbers can be called units
–> difference between 0 and 1 is 1 unit
–> difference between 0 and 2 is 2 unit
Additions on number line
As i have said earlier, you can easily perform mathematical computations using number lines.
First let us see how we can do additions with the help of this tool.
(i) Add 2 + 3 using number line
we know that 2+3 =5
But let us take the help of this tool to get into the right answer
Steps:
a. First we will mark the number 2 and start hopping from there
b. As we have to add 3, so we have to hop three times
c. After three hopping we will reach number 5 which is our answer
(ii) Add 6 + 5 using number line
a. First we will mark the number 6 and start hopping from there
b. As we have to add 5, so we have to hop five times
c. After five hopping we will reach number 11 which is our answer
Subtractions on number line
Method is similar to addition but as we are doing subtraction we have to hop in reverse direction.
Let us look at some examples of subtractions on number line
(i) Subtract 7-5 using number line
a. First we will mark the number 7 and start hopping towards left side
b. As we have to subtract 5, so we have to hop five times
c. After five hopping towards left we will reach number 2 which is our answer
(ii) Subtract 9-6 using number line
a. First we will mark the number 9 and start hopping towards left side
b. As we have to subtract 9, so we have to hop six times
c. After six hopping towards left we will reach number 3 which is our answer
Multiplication on number line
Let us now understand how we can perform multiplication with the help of number line
(i) Multiply 4 * 3
a. As we have to multiply 4 * 3
It means that we have to take 4 unit hops three times
b. We will start with 0
The first hop will take us to number 4
The second hop will take us to number 8
Third hop will take us to unit 12
Hence 12 is the right answer
I hope the concept of number line is clear. In the next post we will try to study more examples of addition, subtractions and other mathematical manipulation on number line so that there won’t be any iota of doubt among the students.