6.NS.C.5: Signed numbers in context

Also written as 6.NS.5

Understand that positive and negative numbers are used together to describe quantities having opposite directions or values; use positive and negative numbers to represent quantities in real-world contexts, explaining the meaning of 0 in each situation.

In plain words: Students use positive and negative numbers for opposite quantities, like above and below sea level or deposits and withdrawals, and explain what 0 means in each case.

Quick picks

Teach it with: Could Everest hide in the sea?6th grade · Negative numbers · 2 min
Common mistake: Reading the sign as the wrong direction: 30 feet below sea level is −30, not 30, because sea level is 0.
Builds on: 2.MD.B.6Whole-number number lines
Leads to: 6.NS.C.6Rational numbers on number lines 7.NS.A.1Adding and subtracting rational numbers

Example Problems

Evaluate:

3 + (-4)

Evaluate:

2 + (-2)

Evaluate:

8 + (-3)

Khan Academy Resources

Interpreting negative numbers Intro to negative numbers Introduction to negative numbers

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