Part 7: Plotting Rational Decimals on a Number Line Solutions

Use the steps outlined in your Online Lesson to complete the example below.

Example

Plot − 6.15 on a number line.

Step 1:

Identify the integers this value is between.

− 6.15 is between − 7 and − 6.

Step 2:

Draw a number line that extends from one integer to the other.

Step 3:

Divide the number line into the necessary number of sections in order to plot this value.

The decimal of − 6.15 is halfway between − 6.20 and − 6.10. Divide the space between − 7 and − 6 into 10 equal sections.

Note

Although the decimal ends in the hundredths place, dividing the number line into 100 segments would be too difficult. Dividing the number line into tenths is an efficient way to plot decimals in accurate and usable positions.

Step 4:

Plot the value.

− 6.15 is plotted halfway through the second section towards the left from − 6, which is between − 6.20 and − 6.10. It will not be plotted exactly on a point.