Fractions on the Number Line

Class 6 Maths · Chapter 7: Fractions · NCERT Ganita Prakash section 7.4

Learn

Fractions are numbers too, so they have a place on the number line. Cut the gap from 0 to 1 into 4 equal gaps. Each jump is 1/4. The marks are 1/4, 2/4, 3/4 and then 4/4 = 1.

To find 3/5 on the line: cut 0 to 1 into 5 equal gaps, then take 3 jumps from 0.

The line keeps going after 1. With jumps of 1/3, the marks after 1 are 4/3, 5/3, then 6/3 = 2. Fractions like 4/3 are bigger than 1.

On the number line, a number to the right is always bigger. So 3/4 > 1/4, and 5/3 > 1.

Explore: place fractions on the line. You can change how many equal gaps each whole has.

1. Put the point at 3/4.
2. Change to 5 gaps and put the point at 2/5.
3. This line goes to 2. Put the point at 7/4.
4. Put the point at 1 using halves.

Remember

• To place k/d: cut each whole into d equal gaps and take k jumps from 0.
• Further right on the line means bigger.

Quick check

On a line cut into sixths, the point is 5 jumps from 0. Which fraction is it?

1. 5/6
2. 6/5
3. 1/5
4. 5/1

Think about it

Which is closer to 1 on the number line: 3/4 or 7/8?

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.