Rational Numbers

Lesson 6

Math

Unit 4

6th Grade

Lesson 6 of 13

Objective


Order integers and rational numbers. Explain reasoning behind order using a number line.

Common Core Standards


Core Standards

  • 6.NS.C.6.C — Find and position integers and other rational numbers on a horizontal or vertical number line diagram; find and position pairs of integers and other rational numbers on a coordinate plane.
  • 6.NS.C.7.A — Interpret statements of inequality as statements about the relative position of two numbers on a number line diagram. For example, interpret -3 > -7 as a statement that -3 is located to the right of -7 on a number line oriented from left to right.

Criteria for Success


  1. Know that if a number $$a$$ is to the right of number $$b$$, then $$a$$ will always be bigger than $$b$$; if a number $$b$$ is to the left of number $$a$$, then $$b$$ will always be smaller than $$a$$.
  2. Understand that opposites of numbers have opposite orders of the original numbers; if a positive number $$a$$ is less than a positive number $$b$$, then the opposites of $$a$$ and $$b$$ have the opposite order, or $$-a$$ is greater than $$-b$$ (e.g., $$3$$ is less than $$5$$, but $$-3$$ is greater than $$-5$$).
  3. Order rational numbers from least to greatest or greatest to least.

Tips for Teachers


  • Lesson 6 and Lesson 7 are related; In Lesson 6, students determine the order for rational numbers when given a set of numbers and explain their thinking using a number line. In Lesson 7, students extend this understanding to compare rational numbers and interpret their order as it relates to real-world situations.
  • Encourage students to use or draw a number line when one is not provided in the problem (see lesson notes for Lesson 1). This will continue to be a great tool for students to work precisely and accurately and avoiding common misconceptions.
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Anchor Problems

25-30 minutes


Problem 1

Consider the set of numbers $$6$$, $${4 \frac{1}{2}}$$, $$2$$, and $$5$$, and answer the questions that follow.

a.   Graph the numbers on the number line and list the numbers in order from least to greatest. 

b.   Write the opposites of each number and graph them on the number line. 

c.   Order the opposites from least to greatest. 

d.   Is −5 greater than −2? Explain using your number line. 

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem 2

Order the rational numbers below from least to greatest.  

$${5, -4, -\frac{1}{3}, \frac{10}{3}, 3, 0, -4\frac{1}{4}, -4\frac{3}{4}}$$
 

What strategies did you use to determine the correct order?

Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem 3

A student orders three rational numbers from least to greatest as: $${{{{{{{{{-5}}}}}}}}}$$, $${{{{{{{{{-5}}}}}}}}} \frac {1}{3}$$$$6$$

Are the numbers ordered correctly? Choose the best statement below.

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Guiding Questions

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Student Response

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Problem Set

15-20 minutes


Give your students more opportunities to practice the skills in this lesson with a downloadable problem set aligned to the daily objective.

Target Task

5-10 minutes


Tram knows that $$1\frac{1}{6}$$ is less than $$1\frac{2}{3}$$. He wonders if this means that $$-1\frac{1}{6}$$ is also less than $$-1\frac{2}{3}$$
Help Tram determine and understand the correct order of $$-1\frac{1}{6}$$ and $$-1\frac{2}{3}$$, from least to greatest. 

Student Response

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Additional Practice


The following resources include problems and activities aligned to the objective of the lesson that can be used for additional practice or to create your own problem set.

  • Multiple-choice questions where students select the correct order of a set of numbers
  • Multiple-choice questions where students select true statements about a set of numbers, similar to Anchor Problem 3

Next

Compare and interpret the order of rational numbers for real-word contexts.

Lesson 7
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Lesson Map

A7CB09C2-D12F-4F55-80DB-37298FF0A765

Topic A: Understanding Positive and Negative Rational Numbers

Topic B: Order and Absolute Value

Topic C: Rational Numbers in the Coordinate Plane

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