How do you plot rational numbers on a number line?

Question

Gabriel Agustin · Accepted Answer

The process to plot a rational number on a number line is as below.

Let the rational number be #p/q#, where #p# may be any integer (positive or negative) and #q# be a positive integer.

To plot #p/q#, draw a line of #q# units at an angle to real number line from #0# and join it to #p# units on real number line. Also mark a point one unit away from #0# on the line of length #q#.

Now draw a line from the point denoting one unit, parallel to the line joining #q# and #p# so that it cuts real number line at a point.

This point denotes the rational number #p/q#.

See figure below for details.

Benjamin Altschul · Answer

undefined Plotting rational numbers on a number line involves assigning a position to each rational number based on its value relative to other numbers. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Draw a horizontal line representing the number line.
2. Identify the scale you want to use for the number line. For example, you could mark every integer, or every half, quarter, or tenth.
3. Locate the rational number you want to plot on the number line.
4. Identify its approximate position based on the scale you've chosen.
5. Mark a point on the number line corresponding to the approximate position of the rational number.
6. Repeat this process for other rational numbers as needed.

Remember that rational numbers are fractions, so they can be written in the form of a fraction (e.g., 3/4) or as a decimal (e.g., 0.75). You can plot them accordingly on the number line based on their decimal or fractional representation.