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Make a Line Plot with Fractional Measurements

Students create line plots to display data sets that include measurements in halves, fourths, and eighths of a unit. Students correctly place and label the number line with fractions, and mark X's above each value to represent the data.

How it is taught

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A line plot places each measurement as an X above its value.

The mode is the value with the most X marks.

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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.

  1. Draw a scale that holds every length, marked in 1/4 inches: from 3 to 3 3/4.
  2. Put 1 X above each ribbon's length, and stack the X's where the lengths are the same.
  3. 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 3/8 inch, 6 measure 1 1/8 inches and 1 is 1 1/4 inches long. Make a line plot of them. How many X's go at 1 1/8 inches? — 6. Each ribbon is 1 X at its own length, and 6 ribbons measure 1 1/8 inches: 6 X's stack there.

Plot pencil lengths: 1/4, 1/2, 1/2, 1/2, 3/4 inch

We measured five tiny pencils. Their lengths are written in fractions of an inch. Let's show them on a line plot!

Here is our data: one-fourth, one-half, one-half, one-half, and three-fourths.

First, we draw a number line from zero to one inch.

Because our smallest piece is a fourth, we split the line into four equal parts and label each tick.

Our first pencil is one-fourth long. Mark an X above one-fourth.

The next pencil is one-half. Mark an X above one-half.

Another half! Stack a second X right on top.

One more half — stack a third X above it.

Our last pencil is three-fourths. Mark one X above three-fourths.

Look at our line plot. The tallest stack shows that one-half was the most common length.

Grade 4 · Showing measurements on a fraction number line

Now you try. Find the length with the tallest stack. Which 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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