Free Grade 3 Working with Absolute Value Lessons
Free Grade 3 lessons for Working with Absolute Value: 12 real questions with a full answer key and worked solutions. Integers include negative numbers. On a number line, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding.
Free
Core
35 min
24
Learning objectives
Every objective is checkable, and each one maps to an activity and an assessment.
- UnderstandExplain working with absolute value
Explain working with absolute value accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- ApplyCalculate working with absolute value
Calculate working with absolute value accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- AnalyseCompare working with absolute value
Compare working with absolute value accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
- EvaluateJustify working with absolute value
Justify working with absolute value accurately in a familiar context.
Assessed by: Exit ticket of four short items
Prerequisites
Close these gaps first — each has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
How Working with Absolute Value works
Integers include negative numbers. On a number line, adding moves right and subtracting moves left. Subtracting a negative is the same as adding.
12 practice questions
Easy to hard, 24 marks in total. Try them first, then open the answers.
- 1.6 − 8 = ?[1]
- 2.-1 + 1 = ?[1]
- 3.-5 − 7 = ?[1]
- 4.5 − (-5) = ?[1]
- 5.13 × (-17) = ?[2]
- 6.13 − (-19) = ?[2]
- 7.-13 − 20 = ?[2]
- 8.-18 + (-20) = ?[2]
- 9.-19 + 8 = ?[3]
- 10.28 − 1 = ?[3]
- 11.-17 + (-28) = ?[3]
- 12.-19 − (-4) = ?[3]
Show answers and working
1. -2
Subtracting 8 is the same as adding -8. 6 + (-8) = -2
2. 0
Start at -1 on a number line. Move 1 right. You land on 0.
3. -12
Subtracting 7 is the same as adding -7. -5 + (-7) = -12
4. 10
Subtracting (-5) is the same as adding 5. 5 + 5 = 10
5. -221
Multiply the sizes: 13 × 17 = 221. Same signs give positive, different signs give negative. Answer: -221
6. 32
Subtracting (-19) is the same as adding 19. 13 + 19 = 32
7. -33
Subtracting 20 is the same as adding -20. -13 + (-20) = -33
8. -38
Start at -18 on a number line. Move 20 left. You land on -38.
9. -11
Start at -19 on a number line. Move 8 right. You land on -11.
10. 27
Subtracting 1 is the same as adding -1. 28 + (-1) = 27
11. -45
Start at -17 on a number line. Move 28 left. You land on -45.
12. -15
Subtracting (-4) is the same as adding 4. -19 + 4 = -15
Worked examples
5 + 8 = ?
- Start at 5 on a number line.
- Move 8 right.
- You land on 13.
- Answer: 13
14 × 9 = ?
- Multiply the sizes: 14 × 9 = 126.
- Same signs give positive, different signs give negative.
- Answer: 126
- Answer: 126
-13 + (-23) = ?
- Start at -13 on a number line.
- Move 23 left.
- You land on -36.
- Answer: -36
Interactive practice
Free, no account required — answer on screen or print it.
Common mistakes
What learners typically get wrong, and how to fix it.
Thinks −8 is bigger than −3.
Correction: Further left on the number line means smaller.
Treats − (−4) as −4.
Correction: Two minus signs together become a plus.
Teacher tips
- · Use a vertical number line like a thermometer.
Parent tips
- · Compare winter temperatures from the weather forecast.
Real-life applications
- · Temperatures below zero, bank balances, floors below ground.
Assessment objectives
How mastery is evidenced, and which standards it maps to.
Every free resource for Working with Absolute Value
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Frequently asked
- Is this Grade 3 Working with Absolute Value lesson really free?
- Yes. Every lessons on FreeMathWorksheet is free to use, print and share — no account, no paywall and no watermark.
- What should a learner already know before this?
- Start with Introducing Absolute Value, Multiplying Integers. Each one has its own free lesson, worksheet and quiz.
- How is the lesson sequenced?
- Recognition first, then understanding, application, reasoning and finally mastery — the same ladder used across every free resource on the platform.
- What comes next after Working with Absolute Value?
- Move on to Absolute Value in Context, Negative Numbers, Integer Number Line, Adding Integers, which build directly on this idea.
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