Integers and absolute value sit on a number line. To get them, you need to count steps from 0 in both directions and understand opposites (left/right). Warm up the number line and "how far from zero" feels natural.
Answer these 3, then press Show my path. No grade — this just points you to the right level.
1. How many steps is 5 from 0 on a number line?
2. Which direction is the opposite of moving right?
3. What is 8 − 3?
On a number line, numbers to the right of 0 are positive and numbers to the left are negative. Absolute value just means: how many steps away from 0 — it is never negative.
Your quick check picks one for you, but you can switch any time:
Level 0 Count steps from zero, one at a time.
A. How many steps from 0 to the number 3 (moving right)?
Count 1, 2, 3.
B. How many steps from 0 to the number 7?
Count up to 7.
C. How many steps from 0 to the number 0?
You are already at 0, so 0 steps.
Level 1 Distance is always counted as steps.
A. Which is the opposite direction of left?
Left and right are opposites.
B. A frog jumps 6 steps left of 0, then counts how far it is from 0. What is the distance?
Distance from 0 is just the number of steps: 6.
Level 2 Stretch into distance thinking.
A. Point A is 9 steps right of 0. Point B is at 0. How far apart are they?
9 − 0 = 9 steps.
A. Which is farther from 0: a point 4 steps left, or a point 6 steps right?
Compare steps: 6 > 4, so 6 steps right is farther.
1. How many steps from 0 is the number 7?
Distance from 0 is the number of steps: 7.
2. The opposite of moving 5 steps right is moving 5 steps ___?
Left is the opposite of right.
You've practiced exactly what Lesson 9-2 uses. Time to dive in.
Start Lesson 9-2 →