To determine which whole number is on the left of another on a number line, you must first understand how number lines work. A number line is a visual representation of numbers, where numbers increase as you move from left to right. This means that smaller numbers are found on the left side, while larger numbers are found on the right side.
Here’s a simple step-by-step method to identify which number is on the left:
- Identify the two numbers: Look at the specific pair of numbers you are comparing.
- Compare their values: Determine which number is smaller. The smaller number will always be positioned to the left on the number line.
- Visualize or draw a number line: If it helps, you can sketch a number line with evenly spaced intervals to visualize where each number would fall.
- Conclusion: The number that is smaller will be the one that appears on the left side when you place both numbers on the number line.
For example, consider the pair of numbers 3 and 7. If you compare them, since 3 is less than 7, you would place 3 on the left and 7 on the right.
By applying this method, you can easily determine which whole number is to the left of the other in any given pair.