Chapter 2: The Number Line

The number line and midpoint

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Let’s locate fractions on the number line.

We’ll locate $\frac{1}{5}, - \frac{4}{5}, 3, \frac{7}{4}, - \frac{9}{2}, −5, and \frac{8}{3}$ on the number line.

We’ll start with the integers $3$ and $−5.$ because they are the easiest to plot. See Figure 2.1.

The proper fractions listed are $\frac{1}{5} and - \frac{4}{5} .$ We know the proper fraction $\frac{1}{5}$ has value less than one and so would be located between $0 and 1.$ The denominator is 5, so we divide the unit from 0 to 1 into 5 equal parts $\frac{1}{5}, \frac{2}{5}, \frac{3}{5}, \frac{4}{5} .$ We plot $\frac{1}{5} .$ See Figure 2.1.

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