6.7.03 Comparing Positive and Negative Numbers

Comparing Positive and
Negative Numbers

Lesson # 3

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2019 Open Up Resources |

Let’s compare
numbers on the
number line.

Today’s Goals

❏ I can explain how to use the positions of numbers on

a number line to compare them.

❏ I can explain what a rational number is.
❏ I can use inequalities to compare positive and

negative numbers.

Which One Doesn’t Belong:
Inequalities

Warm Up

● Think quietly about which one doesn’t

belong (1 min)

● Share your thinking with your group (2-3 min)

Multiple Choice

Decide whether each inequality statement is true or false.

-5 > 2​

• false
• true

Multiple Choice

Decide whether each inequality statement is true or false.

3 > -8​

• false
• true

Multiple Choice

Decide whether each inequality statement is true or false.

-2 > -15​

• false
• true

Multiple Choice

Decide whether each inequality statement is true or false.

-12.5 > -12​​

• false
• true

Comparing Temperatures

Activity 1
MLR7: Compare & Connect

Work quietly
on the task
(5-6 min)

Dropdown

On a winter day the low temperature in Anchorage, Alaska, was -21 degrees Celsius and the low temperature in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was -14 degrees Celsius.

Jada said, “I know that 14 is less than 21, so -14 is also less than -21. This means that it was colder in Minneapolis than in Anchorage.” Do you agree?​

Select answer

Open Ended

On a winter day the low temperature in Anchorage, Alaska, was -21 degrees Celsius and the low temperature in Minneapolis, Minnesota, was -14 degrees Celsius.

Jada said, “I know that 14 is less than 21, so -14 is also less than -21. This means that it was colder in Minneapolis than in Anchorage.” Explain your reasoning.​

Let’s Talk About It

Rational Numbers on a
Number Line

Activity 2

●MLR2: Collect and Display

Work
quietly on
the task
(10 min)

Let’s Talk About It

True or False?

sign

The sign of any number
other than 0 is either
positive or negative.

For example, the sign of 6 is
positive. The sign of -6 is
negative. Zero does not
have a sign, because it is
not positive or negative.

Lesson Synthesis

●What is the sign of A? B? C? Which number is closest to 0?

●Is A greater than B? How can we write an inequality statement comparing A
and B?

●Is A less than C? How can we write an inequality statement comparing A and
C?

●Is B equal to C? Write a statement that correctly compares B and C. If we plot
two numbers on the number line, how can we tell which one is greater?

Making More Comparisons

Cool Down

Multiple Choice

The elevation of Death Valley, California is -282 feet. The elevation of Tallahassee, Florida is 203 feet. The elevation of Westmorland, California is -157 feet. Compare the elevations of Death Valley and Tallahassee using < or >.

• Tallahassee < Death Valley
• Death Valley = Tallahassee
• Death Valley > Tallahassee
• Death Valley < Tallahassee

Match

Here are the points A, B, C, and 0 plotted on a number line. The points B and C are opposites. Decide whether each of the following statements is true.

• A is greater than B.

• B is less than C.

• C is the opposite of B.

• A is less than 0.

• 0 is greater than A.

false

true

true

false

false

• false

• true

• true

• false

• false