Number Line – Definition -Examples

What is a Number Line?

A number line is a straight line with representing numbers visually. A number line can be extended infinitely in any direction. A number line usually represent horizontally.

In a number line, integers, decimals and fractions can also be represented easily.

Number Line Definition

A Number line is a visual/pictorial representation of numbers on a straight line. A number line drawn horizontally or vertically in which the integers are placed in equal intervals.

Zero is the point of origin or the middle point of the number line. The numbers to the right of 0 are positive numbers and the numbers to the left of zero are negative numbers.

In a number line, numbers on the left side of zero is always less than the numbers on the right and numbers on the right side of zero is always greater than the numbers on the left side.

How to draw and plot points on a number line?

To plot a number on a number line we use following steps.

Step 1: Draw a straight horizontal line with arrow on both ends. We can also draw a vertical number line.

Step 2: Mark the points at equal intervals.

Step 3: On the right of the zero(origin), plot the mark points starting from +1, +2, +3 +4…etc.

On the left of the zero(origin), plot the mark points starting from -1, -2, -3, -4…etc.

If we choose 1 as a scale, then mark 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and so on.

Step 4: Locate the given number.

If we move from left to right the numbers, on number line increase and move from right to left, numbers are decrease.