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
This has been known since the 1870s, when the German mathematician Georg Cantor proved that the set of real numbers (all the numbers on the number line) is larger than the set of whole numbers, even though both sets are infinite.
—
Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 20 June 2025
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
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
Mathematicians want to understand how primes are distributed along the number line, in the hope of revealing an organizing principle for the atoms of arithmetic.
—Byzack Savitsky, science.org, 29 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for number line
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Gregory Barber, Quanta Magazine, 20 June 2025
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
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
Mathematicians want to understand how primes are distributed along the number line, in the hope of revealing an organizing principle for the atoms of arithmetic.
—Byzack Savitsky, science.org, 29 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for number line
Cite this Entry
“Number line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/number%20line. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share