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🔢 7th grade math · Counting & Numbers

Negative number stories

Estimate with whole numbers first. If your real answer is far from the estimate, check it. −4.6 − 2.9 is about −5 − 3 = −8. The real answer, −7.5, is close, so it checks.

Worked example

Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −8.8 + (−1.5) ≈ ?
Answer: −11
Round each number to the nearest whole number: −8.8 is about −9 and −1.5 is about −2. Then −9 + (−2) = −11. The real answer, −10.3, lands close to that, so it checks out.

For grown-ups: Real-world problems with all four operations on rationals. Below: three problems to try with the worked answers, and a free printable sheet. Children can practise the same skill as a game, with no sign-up and no ads.

  • CCSS 7.NS.A.3
What this practises, for teachers

Practices real-world problems with all four operations on rationals (7.NS.A.3). A printable sheet with its answer key, worked answers on the page, no accounts.

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For your class

🖨️ Printable sheet and key

On the board with this skill:

More printables, with answer keys, for this grade:

Try three

  1. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −7.3 + (−8.1) ≈ ?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: −15
    Round each number to the nearest whole number: −7.3 is about −7 and −8.1 is about −8. Then −7 + (−8) = −15. The real answer, −15.4, lands close to that, so it checks out.
  2. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −9.1 + (−7.9) ≈ ?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: −17
    Round each number to the nearest whole number: −9.1 is about −9 and −7.9 is about −8. Then −9 + (−8) = −17. The real answer, −17, lands close to that, so it checks out.
  3. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −5.9 − 8.1 ≈ ?
    Show the answer and how
    Answer: −14
    Round each number to the nearest whole number: −5.9 is about −6 and 8.1 is about 8. Then −6 − 8 = −14. The real answer, −14, lands close to that, so it checks out.

Before and after

Learn first: Multiply and divide negatives (7th)

Comes next: Exponents, roots, big numbers (8th)

Name: ____________________Date: ____________Score: ____ / 12

Negative number stories (7th grade)

  1. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −2.6 − (−0.4) ≈ ?
  2. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 0.7 − (−0.8) ≈ ?
  3. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 2.8 − 3.6 ≈ ?
  4. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −5.8 + (−8.1) ≈ ?
  5. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 0.9 + (−8.3) ≈ ?
  6. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −7.7 + (−0.5) ≈ ?
  7. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 11.5 + (−10.3) ≈ ?
  8. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −11.3 + (−2.6) ≈ ?
  9. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 1.8 − (−4.2) ≈ ?
  10. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: −5.3 + 8.3 ≈ ?
  11. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 10.3 + (−6.2) ≈ ?
  12. Round each number to a whole number, then work it out: 3.5 + (−7.6) ≈ ?

Answer key

  1. −3
  2. 2
  3. −1
  4. −14
  5. −7
  6. −9
  7. 2
  8. −14
  9. 6
  10. 3
  11. 4
  12. −4

More 7th grade skills: all 7th grade math skills, or every grade at math skills.