Max Maths, Year 5, Try it, Ordering numbers on a number line

In the Year 5 maths curriculum, students are taught how to order numbers on a number line, a skill that involves understanding and converting mixed numbers, fractions, and decimals. The Max Maths textbook provides a clear example on page 141, where students are encouraged to use their knowledge of these conversions to assist in the ordering process. The example given includes a set of numbers: 1 1/2, 1/10, 5/2, and 0.02. By converting these to decimals, students can see that 1 1/2 is equivalent to 1.5, 1/10 is equivalent to 0.1, 5/2 is equivalent to 2 1/2 or 2.5, and 0.02 remains the same. Consequently, the correct order on a number line from smallest to largest is 0.02, 0.1, 1.5, and 2.5.

The textbook then presents a 'Let's Try It' activity, prompting students to order a new set of numbers on a number line. The numbers to be ordered are 1 3/4, 0.5, 1.5, and 75/100. Students must first convert these to a common format before they can determine the correct order. For instance, 1 3/4 can be converted to a decimal, as can 75/100. Once converted, students are expected to place these numbers in the correct sequence on a number line. This exercise not only reinforces their understanding of number conversions but also helps them visualise and compare the magnitude of different numbers, which is a fundamental mathematical skill.