Line Signal
Look where the pin sits on a number line and pick the number closest to it.
About this game
Line Signal is an estimation game. A number line runs from 0 to 100, and a pin sits somewhere on it. You choose the number that is closest to where the pin is, from four choices.
It practises number-line estimation, the sense of where a number sits among other numbers. It is a basic building block of number sense that researchers have studied in children and adults.
How to play
- Look at where the pin sits on the line.
- Judge how far along it is.
- Tap the number closest to the pin. The choices get closer together as you improve.
Tips
- Use the halfway point to narrow your guess.
- Use the tick marks at 25, 50 and 75 as landmarks.
- Think in fractions: is the pin a quarter, a half or three quarters of the way?
How it adapts
The choices get closer together as you improve. Kids have a lower top level. Your first game gives you more time to read each pin.
Questions
What is number-line estimation?
It is judging where a number belongs on a line between two end points, and it is a common way to study number sense.
Is there an accessible version?
The choices are labelled buttons, and the exact position is announced after you answer.
Why is the line a fixed length?
So the game is fair on any screen. Wide screens don't make it easier.
The research behind it
Number-line tasks are widely used to study how we represent numbers.
