Grade 3 · Measurement & Data · MAT-03-MD-006
Make Line Plots with Fractional Units
Represent make line plots with fractional units with words, symbols, diagrams, or models appropriate to Grade 3.
Learning objectives
What you should be able to do
- Represent make line plots with fractional units with words, symbols, diagrams, or models appropriate to Grade 3.
- Solve problems involving make line plots with fractional units accurately and explain why the method works.
- Check results for reasonableness using a second representation, inverse relationship, benchmark, or property when appropriate.
Prerequisite check
Make sure the foundation is ready.
Checks conceptual readiness before new Grade 3 reasoning.
Checks whether prior skills are available for use, not only recalled by name.
Learn
Build the idea from meaning, not memorization.
Meaning of Make Line Plots with Fractional Units
A line plot organizes measurements along a number line and shows how often each value occurs.
A reliable reasoning strategy
Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Representations that should agree
Fraction knowledge is essential because measured lengths may fall between whole-number marks. A correct model, equation, verbal explanation, or diagram should preserve the same quantities and relationships.
How to check the result
Check whether the answer fits the quantities, units, and structure of the problem. Use a second representation or inverse relationship when available, and explain what would make an answer unreasonable.
Interactive math lab
Change it. See what stays true.
Data & Graph Lab
Adjust category values and read the graph numerically.
- build a model
- change one quantity
- predict before calculating
- explain why the result changes
Worked examples
Twenty different ways to see the concept work.
A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Frequency = 2Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Frequency = 3Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Frequency = 4Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Frequency = 5Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Frequency = 1Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Frequency = 2Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Frequency = 3Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Frequency = 4Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Frequency = 5Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Frequency = 1Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Frequency = 2Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Frequency = 3Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Frequency = 4Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Frequency = 5Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Frequency = 1Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Frequency = 2Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Frequency = 3Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Frequency = 4Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Frequency = 5Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Frequency = 1Each mark represents one measurement at that value.
Practice
Guided practice with hints
01A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Hint: Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Answer: 2
02A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Hint: Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Answer: 3
03A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Hint: Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Answer: 4
04A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Hint: Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Answer: 5
05A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Hint: Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Answer: 1
06A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Hint: Choose a scale that includes halves or fourths, place one mark for each measurement, then read frequencies and differences.
Answer: 2
Practice
Independent practice
01A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Answer: 2
02A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Answer: 3
03A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Answer: 4
04A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Answer: 5
05A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Answer: 1
06A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Answer: 2
07A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Answer: 3
08A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Answer: 4
Common mistakes
Learn to catch the error, not just the answer.
Build an evenly spaced number line before plotting any data.
Reconnect the answer to make line plots with fractional units and verify that the model, calculation, and label describe the same quantity.
Applications & challenge
Use the idea beyond a single exercise.
Applications
- Summarize repeated length measurements.
- Use make line plots with fractional units to interpret or solve a Grade 3 situation with quantities, diagrams, measurements, or data.
Challenge problems
A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
2
A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
3
A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
4
A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
5
Flashcards
Retrieve it from memory.
Flashcards
Card 1 of 4
Game mode
Make Line Plots with Fractional Units Challenge
Solve and explain Grade 3 problems involving make line plots with fractional units without relying on answer guessing.
Practice
Mastery check
01A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Answer: 2
02A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Answer: 3
03A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Answer: 4
04A line plot has 5 marks above 3. What is the frequency of 3?
Answer: 5
05A line plot has 1 marks above 2. What is the frequency of 2?
Answer: 1
06A line plot has 2 marks above 2 1/4. What is the frequency of 2 1/4?
Answer: 2
07A line plot has 3 marks above 2 1/2. What is the frequency of 2 1/2?
Answer: 3
08A line plot has 4 marks above 2 3/4. What is the frequency of 2 3/4?
Answer: 4
Terminology
Words to know
- line plot
- A display that marks frequencies above positions on a number line.
- frequency
- How many times a value occurs.
Continue learning
Connected concepts
Curriculum references
Standards and instructional references
California Common Core State Standards for Mathematics — Grade 3, 3.MD.4
Primary standards alignment for Make Line Plots with Fractional Units.2023 Mathematics Framework for California Public Schools
Instructional emphasis on reasoning, representations, problem solving, and equitable access.