Number line facts for kids
A number line is like a straight road for numbers! It's a line with numbers placed on it, stretching out forever in both directions. You'll usually see zero (0) right in the middle. All the numbers, like -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, are spaced out equally. Even numbers like fractions (rational numbers) and decimals that go on forever (irrational numbers) can be found in between these main numbers.
Imagine another number line that goes straight up and down, crossing the first one at zero. This vertical line uses special numbers called imaginary numbers (often written with an i). Even though they're called "imaginary," they are super important in real-world math, science, and technology! They also go on forever, both up and down.
What are the different types of number lines?
Most of the time, you'll see a number line drawn flat, going from left to right. But there are other cool ways to show numbers on a line!
One interesting type is the helical number line. Imagine taking a regular number line and wrapping it around a cylinder (like a can) in a spiral shape, moving upwards. That's a helical number line!
If you wrap the line so that every time you go around the cylinder, you pass ten numbers, it becomes a decimal helical number line. This makes numbers with the same last digit line up in columns, which can be neat for seeing patterns!
Related pages
See also
In Spanish: Recta real para niños
