MSTAR Practice Worksheet

Lesson 7-6: Determine Distance on the Coordinate Plane

Grade 6 Mathematics · Standard 6.NOS.9

Name: Date:

These are MSTAR-style questions written for this curriculum to rehearse the format. They are not official Maryland assessment items. MSTAR — Maryland's new state test, first given in spring 2027 — uses the same kinds of questions you see here: selected response, select-all, two-part evidence questions, and written responses.

Part A — Skills Check

Warm up with the lesson's core skills — one best answer each.

Question 1Selected response · 1 point

What is the distance between (-4, 3) and (2, 3)?

A2 units
B4 units
C6 units
D8 units

Question 2Selected response · 1 point

What is the distance between (5, -2) and (5, 4)?

A2 units
B4 units
C6 units
D10 units

Question 3Selected response · 1 point

A rectangle has vertices at (1, 1), (5, 1), (5, 4), (1, 4). What is its perimeter?

A8 units
B12 units
C14 units
D20 units

Question 4Selected response · 1 point

Two points are at (-3, -7) and (-3, 5). What is the distance between them?

A2 units
B7 units
C8 units
D12 units

Question 5Selected response · 1 point

What is the distance between (2, 3) and (2, 8)?

A5 units
B5.5 units
C6 units
D11 units

Question 6Selected response · 1 point

What is the distance between (-4, 1) and (3, 1)?

A-7 units
B1 unit
C7 units
D12 units

Part B — Test-Format Questions

These match the state test's formats: two-part questions, select-all, and written responses.

Question 7Two-part question

Part A

A chest sits at (−3, 2) and a cave at (4, 2). How far apart are they?

Fill in the bubble next to the one best answer.

A1 unit
B2 units
C5 units
D7 units

Part B

Answer Part A before Part B — Part B asks about your reasoning.

Why can this distance be found by subtraction alone?

AThe two points share the same y-coordinate, so the segment between them is horizontal.
BSubtraction works for any two points on the plane.
CBoth coordinates are whole numbers.
DOne of the points is in Quadrant II.

Question 8Written response · 2 points

Type II Reasoning: Subtracting a Negative

Priya found the distance between (−3, 2) and (4, 2). She wrote: 'Just subtract: 4 − 3 = 1, so they are 1 unit apart.'

Explain Priya's misconception and give the correct distance.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.

Part C — Show Your Thinking

Answer in writing, the way the state test's constructed responses work.

Question 9Written response · 2 points

A rectangle has vertices at (-4, -2), (3, -2), (3, 5), and (-4, 5). Find the length, width, perimeter, and area of the rectangle. Show your work using absolute value.

Write your answer in complete sentences. Show or explain your mathematical thinking.