Grade 06 Mathematics - EC: M06.A-N.3.2.2

Continuum of Activities

The list below represents a continuum of activities: resources categorized by Standard/Eligible Content that teachers may use to move students toward proficiency. Using LEA curriculum and available materials and resources, teachers can customize the activity statements/questions for classroom use.

This continuum of activities offers:

Instructional activities designed to be integrated into planned lessons
Questions/activities that grow in complexity
Opportunities for differentiation for each student’s level of performance

Grade Levels

6th Grade

Course, Subject

Mathematics

Related Academic Standards / Eligible Content

M06.A-N.3.2.2 M06.A-N.3.2.2

Interpret the absolute value of a rational number as its distance from 0 on the number line and as a magnitude for a positive or negative quantity in a real-world situation. Example: For an account balance of –30 dollars, write |–30| = 30 to describe the size of the debt in dollars, and recognize that an account balance less than –30 dollars represents a debt greater than 30 dollars.

Activities

Define absolute value.

Define magnitude of a number.

Fill in the chart below.

Simplify each:
1. | 55 | =
2. | -72 |=
3. | 0 | =
4. -| -9 | =

Janice received a call from her bank because she had a checkbook balance of $-100. What was the magnitude of the amount overdrawn?

For each of the following pairs, which has the greater magnitude?

a.23 pounds and -38 pounds
b.-16 degrees and 45 degrees
c.-18.6 dollars and -18.58 dollars

Use a number line to show why a number and its opposite have the same absolute value.

True or False: A positive number always have a higher absolute value than a negative number. Explain your answer.

Write a word problem whose solution is |-25| = 25

Answer Key/Rubric

Absolute value is the distance from zero on a number line.

The magnitude of a number is how far away a number is from zero, or the absolute value.

Answers as follows:
1. 55
2. 72
3. 0
4. -9

Janice overdrew her checking account by $100.00; | -100| = 100

Answers as follows:

a. -38 pounds; | 23| = 23 and | -38| = 38
b. 45 degrees; |-16| = 16 and |45| = 45
c. -18.6 dollars; | -18.6| = 18.6 and | -18.58| = 18.58

Acceptable answers may include, but are not limited to:

A number and its opposite are the same distance from zero but on opposite sides.

An example is 3 and -3. These numbers are both 3 units away from zero. Their distance is the same so they have the same absolute value.

Graph:

False.

Acceptable explanations may include, but are not limited to:

Absolute value is always positive, therefore, it doesn’t matter if the number is positive or negative to start

The actual number is what matters, not if it is positive or negative

Example: A number (+10) and its opposite (-10) have the same absolute value

Example: |-22| = 22 and |9| = 9

Acceptable responses must include, but are not limited to:

Problem must have a value that can be represented by -25

Problem must include a question that requires finding the absolute value of - 25

Example: A scuba diver is looking for buried treasure. Currently he is 25 feet below sea level. How far away is he from the surface of the water?