Distance on the Coordinate Plane Worksheets, Grade 6 (6.NS.C.8) – Free PDF + Answer Key

First page of the distance on the coordinate plane practice worksheet

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

Watch: Coordinate Plane Explained: Plotting Points and Quadrants

Key idea

Two points sharing a coordinate lie on a straight line. Subtract the coordinates that DIFFER and take the absolute value: from (−8, 0) to (−1, 0), distance = |−1 − (−8)| = |7| = 7 units. Check by counting along the line.

Sample problems

Find the distance between (1, 4) and (1, 9).
Find the distance between (5, 2) and (11, 2).
Find the distance between (−3, 7) and (4, 7).
Find the distance between (−8, 0) and (−1, 0).

Common mistakes to watch for

Subtracted the x-coordinates (2 − 2 = 0) instead of the coordinates that differ.
Answered 2 — computed 6 − 4 and forgot that subtracting a negative adds. Count on a line: from −4 to 0 is 4, then 0 to 6 is 6, total 10.
Answered 9 by adding 7 and 2. Both points are on the SAME side of zero, so you subtract the distances, not add them.

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.