Fractions on a Number Line Educational Resources K12 Learning, Fractions and Operations, Math Lesson Plans, Activities, Experiments, Homeschool Help

Lesson Plan - Get It!

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Imagine you are running a relay race.

passing the baton in a race

In order to cross the finish line, you and your teammates have to run 1 whole mile. Since there are four of you on the relay team, you will each run an equal part of the 1 mile.

Let's use a number line and your knowledge of fractions to figure out where each teammate should stand on the track.

A fraction represents the number of equal parts of a whole.

Sometimes you can use shapes split into equal parts to show a fraction:

equal parts example

You can also use fraction bars:

$fraction bars example$

This time, let's use a number line to show fractions.

Remember the relay race from above?

When you start a relay race, the first runner starts at the START line, or 0.

race number line example 1

The four runners will run equal parts in order to cross the finish line at 1 whole mile.

Let's mark on the number line where each runner will start their equal part of the race.

race number line example 2

Now, we are ready to make a fraction!

The number line is split into how many equal parts?

race number line example 3

Four! The number line is split into four equal parts! This number becomes the denominator of the fraction.

If the runner at the START line runs to the next teammate, how much of the race did that runner run?

In other words, if you start at the 0 on the number line and look at the point, what fraction does the number line represent?

race number line example 4

The fraction shown on this number line is ¼ .

The first teammate will run ¼ of the one mile race! Each runner will run ¼ of a mile.

Let's think about the relay race in a few different situations. Draw a number line to help you understand.

If you would like to review what you have just learned, watch Fractions on a Number Line - 3rd Grade Math Videos for Kids from Math & Learning Videos 4 Kids:

To practice using number lines to show fractions, click "Next" to visit the Got It? section.