Interpret and Solve Problems Using Line Plots with Fractions

Students read and interpret line plots displaying fractional data, and solve problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions using the information shown in the line plot. Students answer questions about the most common value, range, and total.

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Grade 4 · Line Plots with Fractional Data · question 1 of 3

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20 rungs. A star at the top.

From the plot, how many carrots were plotted?

Your answer:

How it is taught

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A line plot shows each measurement as a mark above a number.

To compare longest and shortest, subtract those two values.

Read it: An X for every ribbon

Ribbons are measured to the nearest 1/4 of an inch: 3 1/4, 3 1/4, 3 1/4, 3 and 3 3/4. Each ribbon is 1 X above its length, so 3 1/4 has the tallest stack.

Draw a scale that holds every length, marked in 1/4 inches: from 3 to 3 3/4.
Put 1 X above each ribbon's length, and stack the X's where the lengths are the same.
Read the plot: count the X's, find the tallest stack, and subtract the shortest from the longest.

Each X is 1 ribbon, so the X's count the ribbons, not the marks on the scale.

Lengths that are the same stack up, so the tallest stack shows the most common length: 3 1/4 inches.

The scale is marked in 1/4 inches like a ruler, so the range is 3 3/4 − 3 = 3/4 inch.

One X for each measurement, above its length on a scale marked like the ruler; then count, compare and subtract.

Counting the marks on the scale instead of the X's, and saying there are 4 ribbons.

The marks are lengths and the X's are ribbons: 1 + 3 + 1 = 5 ribbons.

Ribbons were measured: 2 measure 5 1/2 inches, 1 is 6 inches long and 3 measure 6 1/2 inches. How many ribbons were measured in all? — 6. On a line plot, each ribbon is 1 X: 2 + 1 + 3 is 6.

Tallest minus shortest from a line plot of plant heights

Maya measured seven bean sprouts and recorded each height on a line plot. Let's read it together!

Each X above a fraction is one sprout that tall. The numbers show inches.

Which sprout is the tallest? The X farthest to the right sits at five-eighths of an inch.

And the shortest? The X farthest to the left sits at one-eighth of an inch.

To find how much taller the tallest is, we subtract: five-eighths minus one-eighth.

The denominators are the same, so we subtract just the top numbers: five minus one is four.

Grade 4 · Reading a line plot of bean sprout heights

So the difference is four-eighths of an inch.

The tallest sprout is four-eighths of an inch taller than the shortest. Nice line-plot reading!

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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