How do you plot rational numbers on a number line?

1 Answer
Apr 4, 2016

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

Explanation:

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.

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