• The Mathematical Education
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• v.63 no.3
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• pp.393-409
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• 2024

The number line model, which intuitively marks numerical magnitudes in space, is widely utilized to help in understanding the magnitudes that fractions and decimals represent. The study analyzed 6^th graders' understanding of fractions and decimals, their problem solving strategies, and whether individual differences in the flexibility of various strategy uses are associated with the accuracy of numerical representation, calculation fluency, and overall mathematical achievement. As a result of the study, students showed relatively lower accuracy in representing fractions and decimals on a number line compared to natural numbers, especially for fractions with odd denominators compared to even denominators, and for two-digit decimals compared to three-digit decimals. Regarding strategy use, students primarily used benchmark, segmentation, and approximation strategies for fractions, and benchmark, rounding, and transformation strategies for decimals sequentially. Lastly, as students used various representation strategies for fractions, their accuracy in representing fractions and their overall mathematical achievement scores showed significantly better outcomes. Taken together, we suggest the need for careful instruction on different interpretations of fractions, the place value of decimals, and the meaning of zero in decimal places. Moreover, we discuss instructional methods that integrate the number line model and its diverse representation strategies to enhance students' understanding of fractions and decimals.