Unit 7, Lesson 4
Absolute Value of Numbers
Accelerated 6
Preparation
Lesson Narrative
In this lesson, students formalize the concept of absolute value as a number’s distance from zero. Students begin by determining which of two numbers is closer to zero. Next, they consider a bug that is jumping left or right on a number line. They reason about how far the bug jumps versus how far the bug is from zero. Lastly, students use the concept and notation of absolute value to reason abstractly about the familiar contexts of temperature and elevation (MP2).
- Compare rational numbers and their absolute values, and explain (orally and in writing) the reasoning.
- Comprehend the phrase “absolute value” and the symbol "$|\hspace{.15in}|$" to refer to a number’s distance from zero on the number line.
- Interpret rational numbers and their absolute values in the context of elevation or temperature.
Let’s explore distances from zero more closely.
Required Preparation
For the digital version of the activity, acquire devices that can run the applet.
The absolute value of a number is its distance from 0 on the number line.
- The absolute value of -7 is 7, because it is 7 units away from 0.
- The absolute value of 5 is 5, because it is 5 units away from 0.