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number line
noun
: a line of infinite extent whose points correspond to the real numbers according to their distance in a positive or negative direction from a point arbitrarily taken as zero
Examples of number line in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Now studies show that the concept of zero is processed in similar ways to many numbers and can be situated along a mental number line.
—Michaela Maya-Mrschtik, Scientific American, 21 Oct. 2024
No longer a placeholder, the digit acquired a value and found its place on the number line, before 1.
—Quanta Magazine, 18 Oct. 2024
For example, the set {2, 4, 8, 16, …}, in which each number doubles the one before it, is so spread out along the number line that it’s said to make up 0 percent of the whole numbers.
—Leila Sloman, WIRED, 1 Sep. 2024
Predicting exactly where the next prime will show up on the number line is challenging, but describing the cumulative abundance of primes over large intervals is surprisingly straightforward.
—Byzack Savitsky, science.org, 29 July 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1956, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near number line
Cite this Entry
“Number line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/number%20line. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Kids Definition
number line
noun
: a line without ends whose points are matched to the real numbers by their distance from a given point labeled zero
More from Merriam-Webster on number line
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about number line
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