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Create Line Plots with Fractional Measurements

Students collect or are given a data set of measurements in fractions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8) and construct an accurate line plot. They label the number line with appropriate fractional intervals and place Xs correctly.

How it is taught

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A line plot stacks an X for each measurement.

Equal spaces on the line keep the fractions honest.

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Read it: Line plots of fractions

5 ribbons on a line plot: 1 X at 4, 3 X's at 4 1/2 and 1 X at 4 3/4 inches. Count the X's, take the shortest from the longest (3/4 inch), or add every X's length.

  1. Measure each thing and put 1 X above its length on the scale.
  2. Read the plot: count the X's at a length, and find the shortest and the longest.
  3. To add every length, multiply each stack's length by its X's, then add the stacks.

Each X stands for 1 thing, so X's at the same length stack up.

The longest minus the shortest is how far the lengths run: 4 3/4 − 4 = 3/4.

A stack of 3 X's at 4 1/2 is 4 1/2 + 4 1/2 + 4 1/2: its length counts once for every X, so it is 3 × 4 1/2.

One X for each thing: count the X's, take the shortest from the longest, or add the stacks.

Adding each stack's length once, as if every stack were 1 ribbon.

Every X is a ribbon, so the 3 X's at 4 1/2 add 4 1/2 three times.

Ribbons were measured, in inches: 1/8, 3/8, 5/8 and 3/8. Make a line plot of them. How many X's go at 3/8 inch? — 2. Each ribbon is 1 X at its own length, and 2 ribbons measure 3/8 inch: 2 X's stack there.

Plot 7 pencil lengths to the nearest 1/8 inch

Today we'll build a line plot. We measured seven pencils to the nearest eighth of an inch — let's chart them!

Here are our measurements. Notice the fractions: eighths, quarters, and a half.

First, we draw a number line. We label every eighth from four inches to four and a half.

Three pencils measured four and one-eighth. We stack three X's above that mark.

Two pencils measured four and one-quarter — that's the same as four and two-eighths. Two X's go there.

One pencil measured four and three-eighths. One X.

And one pencil reached four and one-half — also four and four-eighths. One X.

Last, we label the axis so anyone reading our plot knows what we measured.

Grade 5 · Turning measurements into a line plot

Look at our line plot. The tallest stack shows that four and one-eighth was the most common length. Great work!

Now you try. Which stack on this plot is tallest? What length is most common?

What you see

While they climb, your page writes one true line to ask about tonight, and a short note each Sunday.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics
Did you know?

A chessboard has 64 squares — share them out between the 8 rows and each row holds exactly 8.

Today’s goal
1 star — one skill mastered, every rung of its ladder climbed
Climbing now
Divide within 100

An example student.

MayaGrade 3 · Mathematics

Maya earned 2 stars this week — Interpret multiplication as equal groups, which took 6 answers over 3 days before its star landed 3 days ago and Multiply by 6, 7, 8 and 9. Next up: Divide within 100.

An example week.

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