Everyone
is familiar
with
number
lines.
We use them in
our daily life
on a
routine basis
to compare
values -
smaller to
bigger - bigger
to
smaller.
For example,
the speedometer
in a car is a
number line, a
ruler is a
number line,
the numbering
on a football
field is a
number line,
the pages in a
book fall on a
number line, a
student's
grade falls on
a number line,
the dial on a
radio is a
number line, a
thermometer is
a number line,
etc.
. . .
Integers
A number
line makes it
easy to compare
integers. A
number line
uses the visual
concepts of
distance and
proximity to
show the
position of
numbers
relative to one
another.
When two
different
numbers are
plotted on a
horizontal
number line,
one of the
numbers will be
plotted to the
left of the
other number.
The number
plotted on the
left is the
smaller number.
The number
plotted on the
right hand side
is the larger
number.
When two
different
numbers are
plotted on a
vertical number
line, one of
the numbers
will be plotted
below the other
number. The
number plotted
below the other
number is the
smaller number.
The number
plotted highest
on a vertical
number line is
the larger
number.
For
Example:
Compare
the decimals
3
and
-1
.

Number
Line
The number line
shows that
-1
is less
than
3
.
-1
<
3
The number line
shows that
3
is greater
than
-1
.
3
>
-1