Points on the Number Line

Student Summary

Two numbers that are the same distance from 0 and on different sides of the number line are opposites. For example, points A and B are opposites because they are both 2.5 units away from 0 and on opposite sides of 0.

Number line, negative 5 to 5 by ones. Point A is halfway between negative 3 and negative 2. Point B is halfway between 2 and 3. Point C is halfway between 4 and 5.

We can also say that the opposite of 8.3 is -8.3, and the opposite of -32\text-\frac32 is 32\frac32. The opposite of 0 is itself.

Here is another labeled number line with some rational numbers. A rational number is a number that can be written as a positive or negative fraction or zero.

The number 4 is positive, and its location is 4 units to the right of 0 on the number line. The number 4 can be written as 41\frac41 or 164\frac{16}{4} or any other equivalent fraction. 

The number -23\text-\frac23 is negative, and its location is 23\frac23 units to the left of 0 on the number line. To locate -23\text-\frac23 on the number line, we can divide the distance between 0 and -1 into thirds and then count 2 thirds to the left of 0.

All fractions and their opposites are rational numbers.

Visual / Anchor Chart

Standards

Building On
3.NF.A

No additional information available.

4.NF.C

No additional information available.

Addressing
6.NS.6

Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Use number lines and coordinate axes to represent points on a number line and in the coordinate plane with negative number coordinates.

6.NS.6.a

Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Use number lines and coordinate axes to represent points on a number line and in the coordinate plane with negative number coordinates.

Building Toward
6.NS.6.a

Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Use number lines and coordinate axes to represent points on a number line and in the coordinate plane with negative number coordinates.

6.NS.6.c

Understand a rational number as a point on the number line. Use number lines and coordinate axes to represent points on a number line and in the coordinate plane with negative number coordinates.