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Read and Interpret Line Plots with Fractional Data

Students read and interpret line plots that display data sets with measurements in fractions of a unit (1/2, 1/4, 1/8). They identify what each X represents and answer questions about the data by reading the plot.

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Read and Interpret Line Plots with Fractional Data

Grade 5 · Line Plots with Fractions · question 1 of 3

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20 rungs. A star at the top.

11122212331244125straw lengths

How much do straws vary from shortest straw to longest?

Read the line plot.

How it is taught

0:00 of 4:41

A line plot stacks marks above values.

The mode is the value with the most marks.

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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: 2 measure 1 1/4 inches, 1 is 1 5/8 inches long and 3 measure 2 1/8 inches. How much longer is the longest ribbon than the shortest? — 7/8. 2 1/8 − 1 1/4 = 7/8 inch.

Ribbon lengths plotted in fourths of an inch

Lily measured ten ribbons with a ruler. She sorted the lengths onto a line plot. Let's read it together!

The number line is marked in fourths of an inch — from one inch all the way to two inches.

Each X stands for one ribbon. We stack an X above the length we measured.

Question one: how many ribbons are exactly one and a half inches long?

Find one and a half on the number line, then look at the X's stacked above it.

Count them: one, two, three. Three ribbons are one and a half inches long.

Question two: what's the difference between the longest ribbon and the shortest ribbon?

The shortest ribbon is all the way to the left — one inch.

The longest ribbon is all the way to the right — two inches.

Subtract: two minus one equals one. The difference is one whole inch.

Lily measured 10 ribbonsHow long is each one?…and 6 moreRibbon Lengths (inches)11141121342XXXXXXXXXXEach X = 1 ribbonHow many ribbons are 112 in long?ANSWER3ribbons at 112 inLongest − shortest = ?shortest (1)longest (2)2 − 1 = 1RANGE1 inlongest − shortest
Grade 5 · Counting X's and comparing fractional measurements

Nice work! Reading a line plot is just counting X's and reading fractions on the number line.

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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