Line+Them+Up!!!!



You might recall that in math a number (or rational) is a point on the number line. Well fractions are parts of a whole number, and they also can be points on a number line. Take this ruler for example, there are fractions on this number line even though they're we do not see them written there!

** LOOK HERE: **

 * Find the increment that is 3cm on the ruler above.
 * Now count all the increments (marks) until you reach to 4cm. You should have counted 10 marks.
 * Look at the first increment after 3cm. This is normally read as 3.1. This is in decimal form, but in fraction for it is said to be three and one tenth (3 1/10).
 * 3 is the whole number and 1 is a part of ten total parts. So we write 3 as a whole number, 1 is how many parts (the numerator) of the total 10 as the denominator. This is a **mixed fraction** on the number line.

In your goups, list below all the increments in fraction form from mark 3 to 4. Lets see if the class has the same answers?!

1) Find the fractions represented by points A, B, C and D on the number lines. They can be both **positive and negative fractions**.

a) ............................. . A ............................... B ................. . C ............................... D <+++++++++++> ......... -3 .................... ...........- - 2 ............................... -1 ............................... 0

b) .................. A .......................................... B ......................................... C ............... D <--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--> ....... -2 .................... .............- -1 -.-.............................. 0 .................................. 1

**EXAMPLE:**
Draw a number line graph of the following set of rationals (numbers). (-3/4, 1 1/4, -1 1/2, 2)

...................... ** -1 1/2 ** ... .............  **-3/4** ......................................................................... **1 1/4** ...................... **2**  <|---+---|---+---|---|---+---+|---+---+---+|---|---+---+---|---> ......... -2 .................. | ................ -1 ..................................... 0 .................................... +1 ................................... +2 ............................... | ............................... |
 * -1 1/2 is equal to -1 2/4 **
 * 2/4 is simplified to 1/2. They are equal fractions, and are called equivalent fractions. **

2) Draw number line graphs in your work books for the following sets of rationals (numbers): //__HINT:__ Look at the whole numbers you need to include on you number line//.

a) 2/5, 4/5, 1 1/5, 3/5. b) 1/6, -5/6, 1 1/2, 2/3.