Mathematics
Grade 6
Negative Numbers
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Dear Parent or Guardian:
Your son or daughter is currently learning to use negative numbers.
Here is your chance to help him or her practice this important skill.
In this PAL Packet you will find a short activity for you and your
son or daughter to do. Please do the activity and The Back Page
this evening. Then sign your name on The Back Page and have your
son or daughter return it tomorrow.
Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
_________________________
Your child’s teacher
Grade 6 – Negative Numbers
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
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Last printed 8/31/04
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USING NEGATIVE NUMBERS
Parent Pointer —
We most commonly see and use positive numbers, but negative numbers
are also present in our everyday lives. For example, we use negative
numbers to represent the amount of money that may be overdrawn in a
bank account. When we record very low temperatures, they are usually
read as “below zero.” If the temperature were 15° below zero, it would
be recorded as –15°F. Depths recorded below sea level also have
negative symbols placed in front of them. Your son or daughter is
learning how to work with negative numbers.
Math In the Home, On the Go, and For the Fun of It —
DIRECTIONS: Read through the Positive and Negative Numbers
reference sheet. Be sure you understand how to add positive and
negative numbers. Then, on the Looking at the Positives and the
Negatives page, work with your parent or guardian in solving problems
involving negative numbers.
Talk About It —
After you have finished the activity, turn to The Back Page to show
what you know.
Now go have some fun with the activity! (
Grade 6 – Negative Numbers
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
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Positive and Negative Numbers
-5
-4 -3 -2 -1
Negative numbers
0
1
2
3
4
5
Positive numbers
Negative numbers are less than zero, and
positive numbers are greater than zero.
120°
110°
100°
90°
80°
70°
60°
50°
40°
30°
20°
10°
0°
-10°
-20°
-30°
-40°
A thermometer is like a vertical number line.
The numbers below zero are negative
numbers.
The temperature in Minneapolis was 5°F and
decreased 10° in the evening. What is the
new temperature?
5° − 10° = -5°
The problem stated that the temperature
decreased by 10° from only 5°; therefore, this
number is negative. Because 10 is larger than
5, the answer is negative.
Grade 6 – Negative Numbers
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
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Last printed 8/31/04
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Looking at the Positives and the Negatives
Directions: Work with your parent or guardian in solving each problem.
Match the question to the correct answer on the right.
Hannah and her brother are playing a card
game. Hannah has -25 points. In her next
turn, she scores 40 points. What is her new
point score?
Kayla has $145 in her account and made a
purchase in the amount of $175. What
number represents the amount of money in
her account now?
-4
25°F
-11°F
10
15°F
Omar is the starting running back for his
football team. On his first attempt, he runs
for 3 yards. On his second attempt, he is
tackled for a 7-yard loss. How many
yards does he have after two attempts?
The temperature in Helena, Montana is 10°F.
One evening, the temperature went down 15°.
What is the new temperature?
15
5°F
-$30
-5°F
The temperature in Duluth, Minnesota is
3°F. If the temperature went down 12
degrees, what is the new temperature?
Grade 6 – Negative Numbers
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
-9°F
$30
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The Back Page
Talk About It
Parent —
Ask your son or daughter the following question:
9What do you know about using negative numbers?
Student —
Answer the above question in a complete sentence on the
reverse side of this page.
OR
Do one of the following activities on the reverse side of
this page:
9Find temperatures in the newspaper of places that
have negative numbers recorded. Write two questions
similar to the ones on the reference and activity
sheets. Have your parent or guardian answer them.
9Write a question about someone who overdraws money
out of his or her account. Have your parent or
guardian answer it. Remember that the answer should
be a negative number.
__________________________ _________________________
Student’s Name
Parent or Guardian’s Signature
Grade 6 – Negative Numbers
© 2004 Evans Newton Incorporated
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Last printed 8/31/04