Number Lines for Kids: Find the Missing Number and the Jump Size (Grade 1 and Grade 2 Math)

Hi, I'm Luna from DoodleBeez. Today we are learning about number lines. A number line puts numbers in order along a line, with equal jumps between them.

Every jump on this line is the same size. From zero to one is one jump. From one to two is one jump. The numbers get bigger as we go to the right, and smaller as we go to the left.

Number lines do not always count by ones. Look at this one. Ten, twenty, thirty, forty. Each jump is ten. To find the jump size, look at two numbers next to each other and find the difference.

Now a missing number. Five, ten, blank, twenty. First find the jump. Ten take away five is five. So every jump is five. Ten plus five is fifteen. The missing number is fifteen.

Number lines are great for adding too. Seven plus four. Start at seven and hop four times. Eight, nine, ten, eleven. Seven plus four is eleven.

Now it's your turn. Twelve, fourteen, blank, eighteen. What is the jump? What is missing? Pause and try. The jump is two, and twelve, fourteen, sixteen, eighteen. The missing number is sixteen.

Great job! Remember, number lines have equal jumps, find the jump size first, then count on to the missing number. Practice number lines in the Math Lab at doodlebeez.com. See you next time!