Empty number line - NSW Department of Education

Empty number line help with adding and subtracting numbers An empty number line is a tool to teach children how to show their thinking when adding and subtracting numbers. It helps to develop their number sense. It has no markings. It is empty to start with. Children put the numbers they are using on it. They can use it to show the jump strategy. They put all their thinking on it. They jump forward along the line to add and back along the line to subtract.

124 + 48 = 172 could be shown as:

+10

124 start

+10

134

+10

144

+10

154

+6

164

+2

170 172 answer

Another child could show it as: +40

124 start

134

+6

144

154

164

+2

170 172 answer

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155 – 82 = 73 could be shown as: We can show these differences using a number line:

–2

73 answer

–25

–55

75

100

155 start

Another child could show it as:

–2

–5

–10

–10

–55

73 75 answer

100

155 start

There are many correct ways to get the same answer.


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Print your own


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