Absolute Value Worksheets, Grade 6 (6.NS.C.7) – Free PDF + Answer Key

First page of the absolute value practice worksheet

Download free

PDFs print on US Letter paper. Free for classroom and home use.

Watch: Absolute Value Explained Step by Step

Key idea

|x| = distance from zero. Distance is never negative, so an absolute value is never negative. |−9| = 9. |9| = 9. |0| = 0. Careful: a bigger absolute value does NOT mean a bigger number when negatives are involved.

Sample problems

Find |−9|.
Find |12|.
Find |0|. Explain your answer.
Find |−½|.

Common mistakes to watch for

Answered |−5| = −5 — treated the bars as decoration. Distance from zero is never negative.
Answered −3/4 — kept the sign inside the bars.
Answered −2.5, or 2.5 with the sign flipped back on afterwards.

The answer key explains each one, so you can tell what a wrong answer means.

How to use this set

Teach with the slides (about 15 minutes), or watch the video together.
Practice with the worksheet. Questions climb from fluency to application to reasoning.
Check understanding with the exit ticket, and send the homework home.
Mark with the answer key — each answer shows the steps and the most likely mistake.