Fractions are located between 0 and 1 on a number line. For halves: mark 0, 1/2, 1. For thirds: mark 0, 1/3, 2/3, 1. Equal spacing ensures accurate representation.
Draw number lines carefully with equal spacing. Use rulers or folded paper for accuracy.
Unequal spacing; misplacing fractions; not recognizing that fractions are between 0 and 1.
You already know that fractions like 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 represent parts of a whole. Now you are placing them on a number line — and this changes how you think about them in an important way. On a number line, a fraction is not a piece of a shape; it is a location, a specific distance from zero. This is a deeper understanding of what fractions are: they are numbers, just like 1, 2, or 5.
To place 1/2 on a number line from 0 to 1, you divide the segment between 0 and 1 into 2 equal parts. The equal part requirement is critical — if the parts are unequal, your fraction placement will be wrong. The point exactly halfway between 0 and 1 is 1/2. For thirds, divide the segment into 3 equal parts: the first mark is 1/3, the second is 2/3, and the third lands on 1. Notice that 3/3 equals 1 — the fraction's numerator matching the denominator always lands exactly on the whole number.
A useful trick is to fold a strip of paper to create equal divisions, then lay it under your number line to mark the points accurately. This makes the equal-spacing requirement physical and concrete. Once you can place unit fractions confidently, the number line becomes a powerful tool for comparing fractions: a fraction farther to the right is always larger. 1/2 sits farther right than 1/3, so 1/2 > 1/3 — something that is not always obvious when you are thinking about pizza slices, but is immediately visible on a number line.