Why do students struggle with number lines?
Many students struggle when they have to model their own thinking or have to draw a picture. If your children have difficulty with this on their homework, encourage them to use a number to show how they either added or multiplied the numbers.
How do you write a number line?
Writing numbers on a number line makes comparing numbers easier. Numbers on the left are smaller than the numbers on the right of the number line. A number line can also be used to carry out addition, subtraction and multiplication. We always move right to add, move left to subtract and skip count to multiply.
How do you subtract using a number line?
One way of using the number line for subtracting integers is to move in the opposite direction of adding integers. To add a positive integer, move to the right on the number line. To add a negative integer, move to the left on the number line. To subtract a positive integer, move to the left on the number line.
How do you add numbers on the number line?
To add using the number line, look at your problem. Take the first number and find it on the number line. You can put your finger there to remind you. Then take the second number, which you are adding to the first one, and count up along the number line. If there are more numbers to add, keep counting.
What is a number line strategy?
Also known as the jump strategy or complementary addition, subtraction on a number line is a common technique in KS1 and KS2 maths, useful for helping children visualise that subtraction is finding the difference between two numbers.
How is a number and its opposite represented on a number line?
Smaller numbers always lie to the left of larger numbers on the number line. The opposite of a positive number is negative and the opposite of a negative number is positive. The absolute value of any real number is always positive because it is defined to be the distance from zero (the origin) on a number line.