Lesson 3

Ordering Rational Numbers

Let’s order rational numbers.

Problem 1

Select all of the numbers that are greater than \(\text-5\).

A:

1.3

B:

\(\text-6\)

C:

\(\text-12\)

D:

\(\frac{1}{7}\)

E:

\(\text-1\)

F:

\(\text-4\)

Problem 2

The table shows five states and the lowest point in each state.

Put the states in order by their lowest elevation, from least to greatest.

state lowest elevation (feet)
California -282
Colorado 3350
Louisiana -8
New Mexico 2842
Wyoming 3099

Problem 3

Here are the boiling points of certain elements in degrees Celsius:

  • Argon: -185.8
  • Chlorine: -34
  • Fluorine: -188.1
  • Hydrogen: -252.87
  • Krypton: -153.2

List the elements from least to greatest boiling points.

Problem 4

Decide which of the following quantities can be represented by a positive number and which can be represented by a negative number. Give an example of a quantity with the opposite sign in the same situation.

  1. Tyler’s puppy gained 5 pounds.
  2. The aquarium leaked 2 gallons of water.
  3. Andre received a gift of $10.
  4. Kiran gave a gift of $10.
  5. A climber descended 550 feet.

Problem 5

  1. On the number line, label the points that are 4 units away from 0.

    A number line with 11 evenly spaced tick marks, the numbers negative 5 through 5 indicated.

  2. If you fold the number line so that a vertical crease goes through 0, the points you label would match up. Explain why this happens.

  3. On the number line, label the points that are \(\frac52\) units from 0. What is the distance between these points?

(From Unit 7, Lesson 1.)