Convert the fraction to an integer and a fraction by dividing the numerator by the denominator. The quotient is the integer part of your fraction, and the remainder is the new numerator. If the numerator is smaller than the denominator, the integer is zero. For example, given the fraction 7/3, 7 divided by 3 is 2 with a remainder of 1. Rewrite your fraction as 2 1/3.
Locate the integer of your fraction on the number line. If your fraction is positive, the fraction will be graphed somewhere in between the integer and the next higher value. If it's negative, you will graph it between the integer and the next lower value. For example, 2 1/3 is positive, so it will be graphed between 2 and the next higher value, 3.
Multiply the numerator of your fraction times 10 and divide by the denominator. If the remainder is greater than half the denominator, round the quotient up by one. For example, with the fraction 1/3, calculate (1 x 10)/3 = 3 with a remainder of 1. The remainder is less than half of 3, so no rounding is necessary, and the resulting quotient is 3. This converts your fraction to an approximate number of 10ths, in this case 3/10.
Imagine 10 divisions between the two integers specified in Step 2. Mark light dots with your pencil to help you see all 10 divisions that fall between two integers. With practice, dividing a segment into 10 parts will come naturally.
Mark the appropriate division that you came up with in Step 3. In the example given, that would be the third mark from the left for 3/10. Dividing a segment into 10 parts simplifies graphing fractions, especially when dealing with large denominators. For example, with the fraction 17/36, it would be hard to imagine 36 divisions, so converting it to 10ths makes it much easier. In this case it would be 5/10, which is halfway between the integers 0 and 1.