Decimals on number lines

Topic Notes

In this lesson, we will learn:

  • How to read number lines for decimals to the tenths or hundredths
  • How to draw a point to represent a decimal on a decimal number line

Notes:

  • A number line is a picture of a straight line with vertical markings of equal spacing
    • Number lines increase from left to right (small \, \longrightarrow \, big)

Decimal on number lines

  • Decimals are numbers with place values even smaller than the ones place.
    • Number lines can be divided even further between each number
    • Splitting each division into 10 equal parts creates the next decimal place value
      • Dividing the space between 0 to 1 into 10 equal parts, each part is a tenth
      • Dividing the space between 0 to 0.1 into 10 equal parts, each part is a hundredth

Decimal on number lines

    • From 0 to 1, it is first split into 10 equal parts (tenths = 0.1)
    • Each of these tenths 0.1 will be split into 10 more equal parts (10 tenths each into 10 parts = 10 × 10 = 100 parts)
    • Ultimately, the space between 0 and 1 will be split into 100 equal parts
    • That's why each 0.01 is called a hundredth (one of the 100 parts)