C
Claire
Does anyone know how to insert a number line?
C
Claire
--
Claire, teacher
Claire, teacher
S
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Describe what a number line is, and we may be able to help.
C
Claire
Hi Suzanne, Thanks for replying. I'm thinking of a straight
horizontal line with evenly spaced little vertical nitches or lines that
whole numbers, fractions and decimals could be placed in order on according
to value, least to greatest.
horizontal line with evenly spaced little vertical nitches or lines that
whole numbers, fractions and decimals could be placed in order on according
to value, least to greatest.
S
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Ouch, I was afraid it was something like that. Not something that Word can
do very easily, I'm afraid. The problem is that it's quite easy to get a
line with marks on it, using drawing lines, but for every bit of text, you
need a text box, and this gets complex quickly. Another approach is the
enter the numbers as ordinary text, spacing them with tabs (using custom tab
stops, not the built-in ones) or a table (though you'd probably have to do a
lot of adjustment to get the column widths appropriate), then add a drawing
line with marks.
I think I'd go the way of text + tab stops. Just press Tab, enter a number,
press Tab, type another number, press Tab, and so on till you've entered
them all. Then click on the tab selector at the left end of the ruler once
to get a Center Tab stop. Click on the ruler where you want the first
number, again where you want the second, and so on till you have them all
placed. You can click and drag the stops you've placed until you have them
just where you want them.
Then use the line tool to draw a horizontal line that spans all the numbers.
Draw a short vertical line, use Ctrl+D to duplicate it as many times as
needed, and drag the short lines on the long line to match the number
positions. Don't worry about the vertical placement. Once you've got all the
short lines where you want them horizontally, use the Select Objects tool on
the Drawing toolbar to "lasso" all the lines and select them. Click Draw,
Align or Distribute, and choose Align Middle or Align Bottom as desired.
do very easily, I'm afraid. The problem is that it's quite easy to get a
line with marks on it, using drawing lines, but for every bit of text, you
need a text box, and this gets complex quickly. Another approach is the
enter the numbers as ordinary text, spacing them with tabs (using custom tab
stops, not the built-in ones) or a table (though you'd probably have to do a
lot of adjustment to get the column widths appropriate), then add a drawing
line with marks.
I think I'd go the way of text + tab stops. Just press Tab, enter a number,
press Tab, type another number, press Tab, and so on till you've entered
them all. Then click on the tab selector at the left end of the ruler once
to get a Center Tab stop. Click on the ruler where you want the first
number, again where you want the second, and so on till you have them all
placed. You can click and drag the stops you've placed until you have them
just where you want them.
Then use the line tool to draw a horizontal line that spans all the numbers.
Draw a short vertical line, use Ctrl+D to duplicate it as many times as
needed, and drag the short lines on the long line to match the number
positions. Don't worry about the vertical placement. Once you've got all the
short lines where you want them horizontally, use the Select Objects tool on
the Drawing toolbar to "lasso" all the lines and select them. Click Draw,
Align or Distribute, and choose Align Middle or Align Bottom as desired.
K
Ken Johnson
Another option is to insert a Microsoft Excel Chart Object.
You can change it to an X-Y Scatter Chart, deselect the Y axis, clear
the plot area and border and reduce its height.
The worksheet that is behind the chart can have a column of X values
and a column of zeroes for the Y values so that the markers are on the
X axis.
The markers can be customised to be either filled or unfilled circles.
The font size shrinks to be unreadable when you reduce the chart's
height but that readily reformatted.
Ken Johnson
You can change it to an X-Y Scatter Chart, deselect the Y axis, clear
the plot area and border and reduce its height.
The worksheet that is behind the chart can have a column of X values
and a column of zeroes for the Y values so that the markers are on the
X axis.
The markers can be customised to be either filled or unfilled circles.
The font size shrinks to be unreadable when you reduce the chart's
height but that readily reformatted.
Ken Johnson
S
Suzanne S. Barnhill
I would guess that any sort of chart would have the numbers evenly spaced.
If I am understanding the concept correctly, the line would have integers as
well as common and perhaps decimal fractions, so the intervals between the
numbers would not be uniform.
If I am understanding the concept correctly, the line would have integers as
well as common and perhaps decimal fractions, so the intervals between the
numbers would not be uniform.
K
Ken Johnson
I agree, a mixture of whole number, fractions and decimals on the one
number line would eliminate the chart option.
Ken Johnson
K
Ken Johnson
Although, a mixture of decimal, fraction, whole number and even text
(eg Pi or e) are possible using series name data labels if each point
plotted on the number line is a separate series and the data label is
positioned at the bottom..
eg 3/4 could be shown by adding a new data series with X value 0.75, Y
value 0 and series name "3/4".
Ken Johnson
(eg Pi or e) are possible using series name data labels if each point
plotted on the number line is a separate series and the data label is
positioned at the bottom..
eg 3/4 could be shown by adding a new data series with X value 0.75, Y
value 0 and series name "3/4".
Ken Johnson
S
Suzanne S. Barnhill
I think you've lost me at this point, but perhaps your reply will help the
OP, who seems, however, to have vanished.
OP, who seems, however, to have vanished.
C
Claire Howard
I'm here, but still lost. Thanks for your persistence. I'm not very
familiar with excel ):
familiar with excel ):
S
Suzanne S. Barnhill
Well, my answer didn't involve Excel!
T
Tom Conrad
Claire,
Since your question pertains to number lines, I'm guessing you are a math or
science teacher. I am further assuming that you want to insert the number
line into an quiz, on which the student will enter or complete the number
values on the line.
Since Office 97, I have drawn number lines and simple cartesian coordinates
in word and powerpoint documents using Word Draw and Powerpoint Draw. I have
also drawn simple number lines using a table and a tabbed line below the
table. I currently use 2003. I hope that the procedures translate to 2007, if
that is your program of choice.
As Susan Barnhill, points out it is easy to draw the lines and align the
vertical ticks but it can get a little involved to label the tick marks. It
is even more complex for vertical number lines.
I need to write up the procedures, and I will post them before the weekend
is out. I will probably write them up in word with examples. I am new to this
discussion group, and I don't know if this forum allows attachments. If not,
then we will need to trade emails.
Tom Conrad
Since your question pertains to number lines, I'm guessing you are a math or
science teacher. I am further assuming that you want to insert the number
line into an quiz, on which the student will enter or complete the number
values on the line.
Since Office 97, I have drawn number lines and simple cartesian coordinates
in word and powerpoint documents using Word Draw and Powerpoint Draw. I have
also drawn simple number lines using a table and a tabbed line below the
table. I currently use 2003. I hope that the procedures translate to 2007, if
that is your program of choice.
As Susan Barnhill, points out it is easy to draw the lines and align the
vertical ticks but it can get a little involved to label the tick marks. It
is even more complex for vertical number lines.
I need to write up the procedures, and I will post them before the weekend
is out. I will probably write them up in word with examples. I am new to this
discussion group, and I don't know if this forum allows attachments. If not,
then we will need to trade emails.
Tom Conrad
T
Tom Conrad
Claire,
I know of three ways to create a number line:
1. using two tabbed lines of text
2. using a blank table followed by a tabbed line
3. using word (powerpoint) draw and text boxes.
This email has the procedures for the first option. I'm still typing on the
other two options.
1. Create a horizontal number line using bar tabs, leader lines, and
center tabs
This technique uses two lines of text (two paragraphs) to create a
horizontal number line. The first line of text draws the number line, and the
second line is used for the labels. I am working in Word 2003, using the
print layout mode, with zoom set to page width.
Preparation: To avoid having Word set a left indent on the number line, I
have set the Autoformat option, that performs this function to off. (Select
Format menu /Autoformat /options button /autoformat as you type tab
/Automatically as you type section/ item: set left- and first- indent with
tabs and backspaces check box is cleared).
We will use a right aligned tab with a dotted leader line to draw the
horizontal line, and bar tabs to draw the vertical tick lines along the line.
A bar tab draws a thin vertical line at the tab stop position. If a paragraph
has five bar tabs set, then five vertical lines automatically appear at the
specified positions. It is not necessary to insert a tab to draw the line.
The bar tabs will draw vertical lines for blank paragraphs and the vertical
lines will be drawn through paragraph text. (some people use bar tabs to
insert text change bars within the margins of documents.)
The width of the vertical line cannot be changed. The height can be changed
by changing the font size. Changing the font size also changes the thickness
of the horizontal leader line. To keep the overall height of the number line
constant, despite font size changes, the user should set the paragraph's line
spacing to a fixed value (format menu /paragraph /Line spacing /Exact). If
the line spacing is set to exactly 16pt, and the font size is set to 22pt
then the horizontal leader line is thick.
Drawing the number line.
- Place the cursor at the left margin on the line where number line is to be
drawn.
- Select the format menu, Tabs. Set a tab stop positon at 5.0", right
aligned, using leader line #3 (return to the document)
- Place the cursor at the left margin on the line where number line is to be
drawn and insert a single tab to draw the horizontal line for the number line
- Select the format menu, Tabs. We are now going to use bar tabs to draw the
vertical ticks along the number line. Sets tab stops at the following
positions:
(Select format menu /tabs)
* The first bar tab is set within the left margin in order to keep the
vertical line above the first number.
* Set bar tab stops @ 0.04", and then every 0.5" up to 4.5".
* Set the last bar tab stop at 4.98". The last bar tab cannot be set at
5.0 or it deletes the right aligned tab set in the first step. Word will not
set tabs closer together than 0.02".
- Create the label line, on the line immediately below the number line.
* Select the format menu, Tabs. Clear all pre-existing tabs.
* Set tabs stop position @ 0.0", and then every 0.5" up to 5.0". (return
to the document)
* now type the labels 0-10 seperated by tabs, e.g., 0 <tab>1 <tab> 2
<tab> … <tab>10. (return to the document)
- the number line is complete.
Advantages- simple and quick. Can be recorded as a macro, or can be copied
to autotext.
Disadvantages- inadvertently deleting a paragraph mark can delete the number
line. Automatic changes to the normal style or other autoformating can delete
or alter the number line.
Hope this helps.
Tom Conrad
========
I know of three ways to create a number line:
1. using two tabbed lines of text
2. using a blank table followed by a tabbed line
3. using word (powerpoint) draw and text boxes.
This email has the procedures for the first option. I'm still typing on the
other two options.
1. Create a horizontal number line using bar tabs, leader lines, and
center tabs
This technique uses two lines of text (two paragraphs) to create a
horizontal number line. The first line of text draws the number line, and the
second line is used for the labels. I am working in Word 2003, using the
print layout mode, with zoom set to page width.
Preparation: To avoid having Word set a left indent on the number line, I
have set the Autoformat option, that performs this function to off. (Select
Format menu /Autoformat /options button /autoformat as you type tab
/Automatically as you type section/ item: set left- and first- indent with
tabs and backspaces check box is cleared).
We will use a right aligned tab with a dotted leader line to draw the
horizontal line, and bar tabs to draw the vertical tick lines along the line.
A bar tab draws a thin vertical line at the tab stop position. If a paragraph
has five bar tabs set, then five vertical lines automatically appear at the
specified positions. It is not necessary to insert a tab to draw the line.
The bar tabs will draw vertical lines for blank paragraphs and the vertical
lines will be drawn through paragraph text. (some people use bar tabs to
insert text change bars within the margins of documents.)
The width of the vertical line cannot be changed. The height can be changed
by changing the font size. Changing the font size also changes the thickness
of the horizontal leader line. To keep the overall height of the number line
constant, despite font size changes, the user should set the paragraph's line
spacing to a fixed value (format menu /paragraph /Line spacing /Exact). If
the line spacing is set to exactly 16pt, and the font size is set to 22pt
then the horizontal leader line is thick.
Drawing the number line.
- Place the cursor at the left margin on the line where number line is to be
drawn.
- Select the format menu, Tabs. Set a tab stop positon at 5.0", right
aligned, using leader line #3 (return to the document)
- Place the cursor at the left margin on the line where number line is to be
drawn and insert a single tab to draw the horizontal line for the number line
- Select the format menu, Tabs. We are now going to use bar tabs to draw the
vertical ticks along the number line. Sets tab stops at the following
positions:
(Select format menu /tabs)
* The first bar tab is set within the left margin in order to keep the
vertical line above the first number.
* Set bar tab stops @ 0.04", and then every 0.5" up to 4.5".
* Set the last bar tab stop at 4.98". The last bar tab cannot be set at
5.0 or it deletes the right aligned tab set in the first step. Word will not
set tabs closer together than 0.02".
- Create the label line, on the line immediately below the number line.
* Select the format menu, Tabs. Clear all pre-existing tabs.
* Set tabs stop position @ 0.0", and then every 0.5" up to 5.0". (return
to the document)
* now type the labels 0-10 seperated by tabs, e.g., 0 <tab>1 <tab> 2
<tab> … <tab>10. (return to the document)
- the number line is complete.
Advantages- simple and quick. Can be recorded as a macro, or can be copied
to autotext.
Disadvantages- inadvertently deleting a paragraph mark can delete the number
line. Automatic changes to the normal style or other autoformating can delete
or alter the number line.
Hope this helps.
Tom Conrad
========
K
Ken Johnson
Hi Claire,
A number line is an XY (Scatter) chart with a zero length Y axis.
If each number plotted on the X axis is a separate data series with 3
values, a text value for the label, an X value for its positioning on
the X axis and a zero for the Y value, then the label can be
positioned below the plotted marker so that it lines up with the tick
mark values on the number line.
If you work through the following steps you should end up with a
number line starting at 0, ending at 1, with tick marks at every 0.1
step, values at every 0.2 step and a marker labelled 1/3 and plotted
at 0.3'.
If you need more detail you can email me and I can reply with a Word
doc that includes pictures of the dialogs encountered (Username =
kencjohnson, account is gmail.com).
Insert (Main menu bar)
Object...
Microsoft Excel Chart
OK
Chart (Main menu bar)
Chart Type...
Chart type:= XY (Scatter)
Chat sub-type:= markers, no line
OK
Chart (Main menu bar)
Chart Options...
Titles tab sheet
Title:= blank or suitable header
Value (X) axis:= blank or suitable footer
Value (Y) axis:= blank
Axes tab sheet
` Primary axis
Value (X) axis = tick
Value (Y) axis = no tick
Gridlines tab sheet
Deselect (no tick) all gridline options
Legend tab sheet
Show legend = no tick
Data Labels tab sheet
Label Contains
Series name = tick
X Value = no tick
Y Value = no tick
Separator:= blank
OK
Sheet1 tab (On the Chart Object)
Select and delete all data
Type the following into A1...
'1/3
(The apostrophe stops Excel converting it to Date)
Type the following into B1...
=1/3
Chart1 tab (On the Chart Object)
Chart (Main menu bar)
Source Data...
Series tab sheet
Use the Remove button to remove all series
Use the Add button to add a new series
Name:= =Sheet1!$A$1
X Values:= =Sheet1!$B$1
Y Values:= 0
OK
For Name: and X Values: you can either type them in or click the
button to the right of the text box, then the Sheet1 tab, then A1 (for
Name) or B1 (for X Values), then that button again.
NB Every point you want plotted on the Number line has to be a
separate series because the series name is used as a label.
Position the mouse pointer over the Value (X) axis. When the screen
tip pops up (little text box showing "Value (X) axis" on a pale yellow
background) double click to bring up the...
Format Axis dialog.
Patterns tab sheet
Lines = Automatic
Major tick mark type = Outside
Minor tick mark type = Outside
Tick mark labels = Next to axis
Scale tab sheet
Minimum:= 0, Auto = no tick
Maximum:= 1, Auto = no tick
Major unit:= 0.1, Auto = no tick
Minor unit:= 0.1, Auto = no tick
Value (Y) axis Crosses at:= 0
Display units:= None
Everything else = no tick
Font tab sheet
Auto scale = no tick
Everything else according to how you want the axis font to appear
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the 1/3 label. Double click when the "1/3"
Data Labels screen tip appears to bring up the...
Format Data Labels dialog
Font tab sheet
Auto scale = no tick
Everything else according to how you want the label font to appear.
Alignment tab sheet
Text alignment
Horizontal:= Center
Vertical:= Center
Label Position:= Below
Right-to-left
Text direction:= Context
Orientation
0 Degrees
OK
Hold the mouse pointer on the grey plot area. Double click when the
Plot Area screen tip pops up to bring up the ...
Format Plot Area dialog
Border = None
Area = None
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the 1/3 marker. Double click when the
Series "1/3" Point "0.333333333" (0.333333333,0) screen tip pops up to
bring up the...
Format Data Series dialog
Patterns tab sheet
Line = None
Marker
Style:= choose from the drop down, commonly circle for a number
line.
Foreground:= whatever color you choose this will be the outer or
border color
Background:= Whatever color you choose this will be the inner or
main color. Make both colors the same for a solid
marker.
Size:= what ever size you prefer.
Shadow = no tick
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the darker resize handle in the middle of
the top border.
When the pointer converts to a double headed up/down arrow, click and
drag down to reduce the chart's height. The fonts will not shrink when
this is done because you have deselected the Auto scale option for
both the axis and label fonts.
Can also be made an AutoText entry.
Readily reformatted to suit your needs.
Extra series can be added to show any number of values with labelled
markers.
Excel does all the hard work for you.
Ken Johnson, also teacher.
A number line is an XY (Scatter) chart with a zero length Y axis.
If each number plotted on the X axis is a separate data series with 3
values, a text value for the label, an X value for its positioning on
the X axis and a zero for the Y value, then the label can be
positioned below the plotted marker so that it lines up with the tick
mark values on the number line.
If you work through the following steps you should end up with a
number line starting at 0, ending at 1, with tick marks at every 0.1
step, values at every 0.2 step and a marker labelled 1/3 and plotted
at 0.3'.
If you need more detail you can email me and I can reply with a Word
doc that includes pictures of the dialogs encountered (Username =
kencjohnson, account is gmail.com).
Insert (Main menu bar)
Object...
Microsoft Excel Chart
OK
Chart (Main menu bar)
Chart Type...
Chart type:= XY (Scatter)
Chat sub-type:= markers, no line
OK
Chart (Main menu bar)
Chart Options...
Titles tab sheet
Title:= blank or suitable header
Value (X) axis:= blank or suitable footer
Value (Y) axis:= blank
Axes tab sheet
` Primary axis
Value (X) axis = tick
Value (Y) axis = no tick
Gridlines tab sheet
Deselect (no tick) all gridline options
Legend tab sheet
Show legend = no tick
Data Labels tab sheet
Label Contains
Series name = tick
X Value = no tick
Y Value = no tick
Separator:= blank
OK
Sheet1 tab (On the Chart Object)
Select and delete all data
Type the following into A1...
'1/3
(The apostrophe stops Excel converting it to Date)
Type the following into B1...
=1/3
Chart1 tab (On the Chart Object)
Chart (Main menu bar)
Source Data...
Series tab sheet
Use the Remove button to remove all series
Use the Add button to add a new series
Name:= =Sheet1!$A$1
X Values:= =Sheet1!$B$1
Y Values:= 0
OK
For Name: and X Values: you can either type them in or click the
button to the right of the text box, then the Sheet1 tab, then A1 (for
Name) or B1 (for X Values), then that button again.
NB Every point you want plotted on the Number line has to be a
separate series because the series name is used as a label.
Position the mouse pointer over the Value (X) axis. When the screen
tip pops up (little text box showing "Value (X) axis" on a pale yellow
background) double click to bring up the...
Format Axis dialog.
Patterns tab sheet
Lines = Automatic
Major tick mark type = Outside
Minor tick mark type = Outside
Tick mark labels = Next to axis
Scale tab sheet
Minimum:= 0, Auto = no tick
Maximum:= 1, Auto = no tick
Major unit:= 0.1, Auto = no tick
Minor unit:= 0.1, Auto = no tick
Value (Y) axis Crosses at:= 0
Display units:= None
Everything else = no tick
Font tab sheet
Auto scale = no tick
Everything else according to how you want the axis font to appear
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the 1/3 label. Double click when the "1/3"
Data Labels screen tip appears to bring up the...
Format Data Labels dialog
Font tab sheet
Auto scale = no tick
Everything else according to how you want the label font to appear.
Alignment tab sheet
Text alignment
Horizontal:= Center
Vertical:= Center
Label Position:= Below
Right-to-left
Text direction:= Context
Orientation
0 Degrees
OK
Hold the mouse pointer on the grey plot area. Double click when the
Plot Area screen tip pops up to bring up the ...
Format Plot Area dialog
Border = None
Area = None
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the 1/3 marker. Double click when the
Series "1/3" Point "0.333333333" (0.333333333,0) screen tip pops up to
bring up the...
Format Data Series dialog
Patterns tab sheet
Line = None
Marker
Style:= choose from the drop down, commonly circle for a number
line.
Foreground:= whatever color you choose this will be the outer or
border color
Background:= Whatever color you choose this will be the inner or
main color. Make both colors the same for a solid
marker.
Size:= what ever size you prefer.
Shadow = no tick
OK
Hold the mouse pointer over the darker resize handle in the middle of
the top border.
When the pointer converts to a double headed up/down arrow, click and
drag down to reduce the chart's height. The fonts will not shrink when
this is done because you have deselected the Auto scale option for
both the axis and label fonts.
Can also be made an AutoText entry.
Readily reformatted to suit your needs.
Extra series can be added to show any number of values with labelled
markers.
Excel does all the hard work for you.
Ken Johnson, also teacher.
C
Claire
Hi Tom and Ken,
Yes, I'm a fifth grade Math teacher wanting to insert a number
line. I've kinda givin this up for now in light of a big unit project due,
but will be back to try out your suggestions. I REALLY want to get this, and
also become more familiar with the "how's". Thanks so much for your
persistence! My grandkids are coming tomorrow, so it may be a couple of
weeks before I'm back. I'll post here.
Thanks again. I'll try! And, Tom, thanks for the
attachment willingness.
Yes, I'm a fifth grade Math teacher wanting to insert a number
line. I've kinda givin this up for now in light of a big unit project due,
but will be back to try out your suggestions. I REALLY want to get this, and
also become more familiar with the "how's". Thanks so much for your
persistence! My grandkids are coming tomorrow, so it may be a couple of
weeks before I'm back. I'll post here.
Thanks again. I'll try! And, Tom, thanks for the
attachment willingness.