Fractions on a number line (age 8+)

Question 1

Liam wants to mark the fraction 5/6 on a number line that starts at 0 and ends at 1. Which sentence correctly describes the steps he must take to find the right point?

Accepted Answer

He divides the segment from 0 to 1 into 6 equal pieces, each representing 1/6, and then moves 5 of those pieces to the right of 0; the point is five‑sixths of the way from 0 to 1.

Answer

He divides the segment from 0 to 1 into 5 equal pieces, each representing 1/5, and then moves 5 of those pieces to the right of 0; the point is at 1 on the line.

Answer

He divides the segment from 0 to 1 into 6 equal pieces, each representing 1/6, and then moves 5 pieces to the left of 1; the point is one‑sixth of the way from 1 toward 0.

Answer

He divides the segment from 0 to 1 into 6 equal pieces, each representing 1/6, and then moves only 4 of those pieces to the right of 0; the point is at 4/6 (which simplifies to 2/3).

Question 2

A chef draws a number line that begins at 0 and ends at 1 to show portions of a cake. He divides the line into four equal sections. How much of the whole does the first division represent?

Accepted Answer

1/4

Answer

0

Answer

1/2

Answer

3/4

Question 3

Ravi is drawing two separate number lines that each start at 0 and end at 1. He wants one line to show the fraction 1/3 and the other line to show the fraction 1/6. Which pair of actions will let him place the correct points on the two lines?

Accepted Answer

On the 1/3 line, divide the segment into 3 equal parts and mark the first tick after 0; on the 1/6 line, divide the segment into 6 equal parts and mark the first tick after 0.

Answer

On the 1/3 line, divide the segment into 6 equal parts and mark the second tick after 0; on the 1/6 line, divide the segment into 3 equal parts and mark the first tick after 0.

Answer

On the 1/3 line, divide the segment into 3 equal parts and mark the second tick after 0; on the 1/6 line, divide the segment into 6 equal parts and mark the third tick after 0.

Answer

On the 1/3 line, divide the segment into 6 equal parts and mark the third tick after 0; on the 1/6 line, divide the segment into 3 equal parts and mark the second tick after 0.

Try three questions

Liam wants to mark the fraction 5/6 on a number line that starts at 0 and ends at 1. Which sentence correctly describes the steps he must take to find the right point?

A chef draws a number line that begins at 0 and ends at 1 to show portions of a cake. He divides the line into four equal sections. How much of the whole does the first division represent?

Ravi is drawing two separate number lines that each start at 0 and end at 1. He wants one line to show the fraction 1/3 and the other line to show the fraction 1/6. Which pair of actions will let him place the correct points on the two lines?

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