Read the first worked example with the solution open so the structure is clear.
Try the practice problems before revealing each solution.
Use the related concepts and background knowledge badges if you feel stuck.
What to Focus On
Core idea:A fraction line plot shows how many data values land at each fractional mark.
Common stuck point:The procedure for fraction line plots is the easy part; the trap is connecting the dots like a line graph. Asking "Does each dot represent one data value at a number-line location?" first is what keeps a correct-looking calculation from being attached to the wrong concept.
Sense of Study hint:Ask: Does each dot represent one data value at a number-line location?
Worked Examples
Example 1
medium
Ribbon lengths (in): 21 (×2), 1 (×1), 121 (×3). Find the total ribbon length.
Answer
6 in
First step
1
Sum: 2⋅21+1⋅1+3⋅23.
See the full worked solution + why-it-works coaching
Setup·Key insight·Why it works·Common pitfall·Connection
Show how to re-scale a halves plot to eighths: where do dots at 21 and 43 land?
Example 3
medium
Bookmarks measured: 43 (×4) and 141 (×4). Find the mean.
Example 4
hard
Eight pieces of yarn measure 83 in (×3), 85 in (×3), 87 in (×2). If you tied them together end to end, what is the total length?
Example 5
hard
Pour 6 cups of water equally into 8 jars whose levels are shown on a line plot. What level (in cups) does each jar hold?
Example 6
challenge
Lina's plot shows 4 dots at 41, 2 at 21, and 2 at 43. She'll add one more dot. Where must she add it so the mean stays exactly 21?
Practice Problems
Try these problems on your own first, then open the solution to compare your method.
Example 1
easy
A line plot has dots at 21: 3 dots. How many data points at 21?Each dot = one data point. How many data points are at 1/2?
Example 2
easy
On a fraction line plot, the ticks are halves. What does a dot above the 2nd tick after 0 represent?Halves-scaled line plot. What value does a dot above the 2nd tick after 0 represent?
Example 3
easy
Dots: 41:2, 42:1, 43:3. How many data points total?Add the dot counts. What is the total number of data points?
Example 4
easy
Which value occurs most often: 41:2, 21:5, 43:1?The tallest stack is the mode. Which value occurs most often?
Example 5
easy
True or false: you connect line-plot dots with a line.
Example 6
easy
How many eighths are between 0 and 1 on a line plot scaled in eighths?
Example 7
easy
Dots at 43 inch: 4 measurements. What length was measured 4 times?Four measurements land on the same tick. What length was measured 4 times?
Example 8
easy
A plot has values only at 21 and 43. Is 85 a data value?Dots appear only at 1/2 and 3/4. Is 5/8 a data value?
Example 9
medium
Dots: 41:2, 21:3, 43:1. What fraction of data is at 21?
Example 10
medium
Lengths (in): 21,21,1,1,1. Plotted, what is the total length of all pieces?
Example 11
medium
Data at 41:1, 21:2, 43:1. Find the range.
Example 12
medium
On an eighths scale, dots at 82 and 86. Simplify these positions.
Example 13
medium
Three measurements: 21,43,43 inch. Find the mean.
Example 14
medium
A plot shows 2 dots at 41 and 2 at 43. What is the median?
Example 15
medium
Dots at 81:1, 83:2, 85:1. How many data points and where is the peak?How many data points in total, and which value has the most dots?
Example 16
challenge
Measurements (in): 21 (×2), 1 (×3), 121 (×1). Find the total length.
Example 17
challenge
Data at 41:3, 21:1, 43:0, 1:0. After adding one dot at 43, does the mode change?
Example 18
challenge
A line plot has dots at 41 (×3) and 43 (×3), plus n dots at 21. The mean is 21. Find n.
Example 19
medium
Dots: 31:2, 32:4. What fraction of the data is at 32?
Example 20
medium
Values 41,41,43 inch are plotted. What is their total length?
Example 21
easy
A line plot shows dots at 41: 2 dots and at 43: 5 dots. How many data points are there in all?Add the dot counts at each position. How many data points are there in all?
Example 22
easy
On a line plot scaled in fourths, what fraction does the third tick after 0 represent?Fourths-scaled line plot. What fraction does the 3rd tick after 0 represent?
Example 23
easy
On a halves-scaled line plot from 0 to 3, how many tick marks are there counting 0?
Example 24
easy
Pencil lengths (in): 41,41,41. How many data points are at 41?
Example 25
easy
How many sixteenths fit between 0 and 1 on a sixteenths line plot?
Example 26
easy
If a plot uses quarters but a child measures 85 in, where should the dot go?
Example 27
medium
Data: 41: 1, 21: 3, 43: 2. Find the median.6 values ordered left to right. The 3rd and 4th both land on 1/2. What is the median?
Example 28
medium
On a fraction line plot, the smallest value is 41 and the largest is 87. Find the range.Range = max − min. Find the range of this data.
Example 29
medium
Five seeds measured (in): 41,21,21,43,1. Find the mean.
Example 30
medium
A plot has values at 81,83,85,87 each with 1 dot. Find the mean.Four equally spaced values. Notice the pairs: 1/8+7/8
Example 31
medium
On a quarters line plot, dots at 41: 2, 42: 1, 43: 3. Find the mode and median.
Example 32
medium
Plot shows hand-spans (in): 541: 1, 521: 3, 543: 2. How many students measured?Dot counts show how many students had each hand-span. How many students in total?
Example 33
medium
A class measures pencil lengths to the nearest 41 inch. What scale should the line plot use?
Example 34
medium
Plot has values 21: 2, 43: 2, 1: 2. Find total of all values.