If you're seeing this message, it means we're having trouble loading external resources on our website.

If you're behind a web filter, please make sure that the domains *.kastatic.org and *.kasandbox.org are unblocked.

Main content

Decimals & fractions on the number line

Plotting numbers on a number line is a fundamental math skill that helps visualize numerical values. Key points include identifying whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, and placing them accurately on the line. This skill enhances understanding of number relationships and builds a strong foundation for more advanced math concepts. Created by Sal Khan and Monterey Institute for Technology and Education.

Want to join the conversation?

Video transcript

- [Voiceover] Plot the following numbers on the number line. The first number we have here is five, and so five is five to the right of zero, five is right over there. That's our five. Then we get 1/3. 1/3. So 1/3 is between zero and one. We can actually split this into thirds. So that would be 1/3, 2/3, and then 3/3, which is one, so 1/3 is going to sit right over there. It's 1/3 of the way from zero to one, that's 1/3. Let me write that. That's 1/3 right over there. Then we have negative 1.2. I'll do that in this blue color. Negative 1.2. So, negative one is right over here. This is more negative than negative one. It's negative 1.2. It's negative one, and then another .2, so it's going to be right over here. This is negative 1.2. Zero is pretty straight forward. Zero is right over there. It's even labeled for us at zero. Five was labeled for us too at five. Then we have negative two and 1/4. So let's go to negative two. Negative two is here, and it's going to be more negative than negative two. It's negative two and then another another negative 1/4. So it's negative two, and then we go 1/4 of the way to negative three. So negative 2 and 1/4 is going to be right over here. So negative two and 1/4. And then finally we have 4.1. 4.1. So four is right over here. .1 is another tenth greater than four, another tenth on the way to five. So four and 1/10 is going to be right over here. 4.1. 4.1. And we are done.