Number Lines: Equivalent forms [TEKS Tools Grade 6]

This post specifically looks at how number lines can be used to generate equivalent forms and understand linear relationships. Read more about TEKS Tools and their rationale here.

Number Lines

Number lines account for around 34% of each 6th grade STAAR test. Within this tool are many uses: understanding number and operations, equivalent forms, linear relationships, and ratios, rates, and percents.

The main function of a number line is to solve problems involving the four operations, understand linear relationships and proportionality, or as a tool to move between fractions, decimals, and percents. By visualizing these quantities on number lines, students can better make sense of the how the quantities are related.

Equivalent Forms

Number lines are useful for representing equivalence between fractions, decimals, and percents.

6.4E - represent ratios and percents with concrete models, fractions, and decimals

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2025-1: a percent was given, students had to convert to a percent

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6.4F - represent benchmark fractions and percents such as 1%, 10%, 25%, 33 1/3%, and multiples of these values using 10 by 10 grids, strip diagrams, number lines, and numbers

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2023-10: two values were shown on a number line, students had to find equivalent values

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6.4G - generate equivalent forms of fractions, decimals, and percents using real-world problems, including problems that involve money

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2023-3: a ratio was given, students had to find an equivalent percent

2023-33: a percent was given, students had to find an equivalent value

2024-21: a decimal was given, students had to find an equivalent fraction

2024-34: a fraction was given, students had to find an equivalent decimal and percent

2025-35: a fraction was given, students had to find an equivalent value

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Linear Relationships

What was first introduced as input/output tables in third grade morphed into graphing in the first quadrant in fifth grade. Underlying both of these representations are linear relationships, visualized on a number line.

6.6B - write an equation that represents the relationship between independent and dependent quantities from a table

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2023-15: a table was given, students had to represent the relationship with an equation

2024-28: a table was given, students had to represent the relationship with an equation

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6.6C - represent a given situation using verbal descriptions, tables, graphs, and equations in the form y = kx or y = x + b

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2023-6: an equation was given, students had to find the matching graph

2025-8: a table and an equation were given, students had to match each to an equation