What is a number line, how does it look, why we need them?
Number line
A number line is an imaginary line which represents 0 in the middle of the line, positive numbers on the right side of 0 and negative numbers on the left side of the line. It's a never ending line and thats why it is represented by arrows on both sides.
This is how a number line is represented,
Why do we need them?
It's easy to visualise numbers in terms of distance. Many times it helps in doing addition, subtraction in better way.
Please note:
For both positive and negative numbers, the more the number is towards right side of the number line the bigger it is, for example 6 is on right of 5 in number line so it's bigger
similarly for negative numbers, the more the number is towards right the bigger it is, for example -1 is on right of -3 in number line so it's bigger.
Understanding number line with real life example
If you get confused about it in exam or anytime think of it with this example;
Say you have 100$ with you.
Say negative sign means the money you need to give to a friend. So which one is benefit for you ?To giving away 1$ or giving 3$.
Of course 1$, because you lose less money so -1 means you give 1$ away to your friend so now you have 99$ and -3 is you give 3$ to your friend which means you have 97$ only hence -1 is bigger or better than -3,
and positive means the money you receive, so getting 6$ is better than getting 5$ as you would have more money.
Hence the conclusion is the more a number is towards the right hand side of a number line the bigger it is in quantity. so 1001 is bigger than 99, but -99 is bigger than -1001 (because -99 will be more on the right hand side than -1001).
A number line is an imaginary line which represents 0 in the middle of the line, positive numbers on the right side of 0 and negative numbers on the left side of the line. It's a never ending line and thats why it is represented by arrows on both sides.
This is how a number line is represented,
Why do we need them?
It's easy to visualise numbers in terms of distance. Many times it helps in doing addition, subtraction in better way.
Please note:
For both positive and negative numbers, the more the number is towards right side of the number line the bigger it is, for example 6 is on right of 5 in number line so it's bigger
similarly for negative numbers, the more the number is towards right the bigger it is, for example -1 is on right of -3 in number line so it's bigger.
Understanding number line with real life example
If you get confused about it in exam or anytime think of it with this example;
Say you have 100$ with you.
Say negative sign means the money you need to give to a friend. So which one is benefit for you ?To giving away 1$ or giving 3$.
Of course 1$, because you lose less money so -1 means you give 1$ away to your friend so now you have 99$ and -3 is you give 3$ to your friend which means you have 97$ only hence -1 is bigger or better than -3,
and positive means the money you receive, so getting 6$ is better than getting 5$ as you would have more money.
Hence the conclusion is the more a number is towards the right hand side of a number line the bigger it is in quantity. so 1001 is bigger than 99, but -99 is bigger than -1001 (because -99 will be more on the right hand side than -1001).
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