Grade 6 Mathematics · Unit 7: Integers, Rational Numbers, and the Coordinate PlaneStandard 6.NOS.9

Lesson 7.6Determine Distance on the Coordinate Plane

Start hereWords, worked example, and sentence starters

Name Date Period

Learning target I can find the distance between two points on the coordinate plane using absolute value.

Start hereWords for this lesson

Read each word before you begin. Say it out loud.

WordWhat it meansExample
DistanceSpanish: Distancia How far apart two points are. It is never negative. always a positive length
Absolute valueSpanish: Valor absoluto How far a number is from zero. It is never negative. |−7| = 7
Horizontal distanceSpanish: Distancia horizontal How far apart two points are going left or right. uses the x-coordinates
Vertical distanceSpanish: Distancia vertical How far apart two points are going up or down. uses the y-coordinates
Coordinate planeSpanish: Plano cartesiano A grid with a line going across and a line going up to plot points. x-axis across, y-axis up
IntegerSpanish: Número entero Whole numbers and their opposites, like -2, -1, 0, 1, 2. ..., -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3, ...

How it worksWorked examplefinding the distance between two points on a vertical line

These numbers are not on your problems. The steps are. Follow them with your own numbers.

On a map where each unit is one kilometer, find the distance from J(−4.5, 8.5) to K(−4.5, −3.5).

  1. The x-coordinates match, so both points sit on one vertical line.
  2. The y-coordinates have different signs, so the trip crosses the x-axis.
  3. Distance from 0 for each y-coordinate: 8.5 = 8.5 and −3.5 = 3.5
  4. Join the two distances: 8.5 + 3.5 = 12

Answer: The points are 12 units apart, so the trip is 12 kilometers straight up and down.

Now you trySame steps, your turn

The steps are the same as the worked example. The numbers are yours. Do the work.

On the same map, find the distance from P(6.5, 2.5) to Q(−9.5, 2.5).

  1. The -coordinates match, so both points sit on one line.
  2. The x-coordinates have signs, so the trip crosses an axis.
  3. Distance from 0 for each x-coordinate: 6.5 = and −9.5 =
  4. Join the two distances: + =
Answer:the horizontal distance, in units

Say it and write itSentence starters

Finish each sentence out loud with a partner. Then use them in your writing.

  • The two points share the -coordinate, so the segment runs .
  • I used absolute value because .
  • The points sit on sides of the axis, so I the two distances.
  • The distance is units, which means on this map.

Word bank distanceabsolute valuehorizontalverticalcoordinate planeaxisunitsaddsubtractx-coordinatey-coordinatesegment

Watch outA common mistake

A common mistake in Distance on the Coordinate Plane is subtracting the coordinates as if both points were on the same side of zero, instead of adding their absolute values when the points are on opposite sides. For example, to find the distance between (-6, 3) and (2, 3), a student might subtract 6 − 2 = 4, but since -6 and 2 are on opposite sides of zero, the absolute values must be added instead: |-6| + |2| = 6 + 2 = 8. The correct distance is 8 units, not 4. Before you submit, ask: 'Are these two points on opposite sides of zero — and if so, did I add the absolute values instead of subtracting?'

Grade 6 Mathematics · Unit 7: Integers, Rational Numbers, and the Coordinate PlaneStandard 6.NOS.9

Lesson 7.6Determine Distance on the Coordinate Plane

Version ASupported practice

Mastery check☐ Exceeds☐ Meets target☐ Needs practice
Name Date Period

Learning target I can find the distance between two points on the coordinate plane using absolute value.

Part 1Understand the ideamodels and meaning
  1. 1Complete the table. Show how you found each value.

    Both points in each row share a coordinate. Find the distance.

    Point 1Point 2Shared CoordinateDistance
    (-5, 1)(3, 1)y = 1
    (2, -4)(2, 6)x = 2
    (-3, -2)(-3, 4)x = -3
    (-1, 5)(4, 5)y = 5

    Hint Each row shares a coordinate, so every distance is a straight horizontal or vertical count.

    Show your work
  2. 2Mark and label each value on the number line.

    Plot -4 and 2 on the number line. Count the distance between them.

    -6-5-4-3-2-10123456

    Hint Distance is the number of unit hops between the two points — direction doesn't matter.

    Show your thinking
Part 2Apply itreal-world problems
  1. 3Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    What is the distance between (-4, 3) and (2, 3)?

    1. A2 units
    2. B4 units
    3. C6 units
    4. D8 units

    Hint Both points have y = 3, so they sit on the same horizontal line — only the x-values differ.

    Show your work
  2. 4Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    What is the distance between (5, -2) and (5, 4)?

    1. A2 units
    2. B4 units
    3. C6 units
    4. D10 units

    Hint Both points share x = 5 — the segment is VERTICAL, so compare the y-values -2 and 4.

    Show your work
  3. 5Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    A rectangle has vertices at (1, 1), (5, 1), (5, 4), (1, 4). What is its perimeter?

    1. A8 units
    2. B12 units
    3. C14 units
    4. D20 units

    Hint Perimeter is the distance all the way around — you need the width AND the height first.

    Formula
    Put the numbers in
    Work it out
    Answer with its unit
    1. 1Name itWhich measure is asked?
    2. 2Write the formulaBefore any numbers.
    3. 3SubstituteMatch each letter.
    4. 4Unitunits, sq units, or cubic?
Part 3Explain and correctreasoning
  1. 6Find the mistake. Explain it, then show the correct work.

    Spot the Common Mistake

    1. 1ProblemFind the distance between (2, 1) and (2, 6).
    2. 2Student thinkingBoth share x = 2, so add the absolute values: |1| + |6| = 1 + 6 = 7.
    3. 3Student answerThe distance is 7 units.

    Which step has the mistake? Explain what went wrong, then show the correct work.

    Hint Are 1 and 6 on the same side of zero or opposite sides?

    Correct work
    Correct answer:

Explain your thinkingHow did you use coordinates and absolute value to find the distance between two points in the same row or column?

Sentence starter The points ___ and ___ share the same ___ -coordinate. To find the distance, I found |___| + |___| = ___, which equals ___ units.

How did it go? ☐ 4 · I can teach it☐ 3 · I've got it☐ 2 · I need a hint☐ 1 · I need help
Grade 6 Mathematics · Unit 7: Integers, Rational Numbers, and the Coordinate PlaneStandard 6.NOS.9

Lesson 7.6Determine Distance on the Coordinate Plane

Version BCore practice

Mastery check☐ Exceeds☐ Meets target☐ Needs practice
Name Date Period

Learning target I can find the distance between two points on the coordinate plane using absolute value.

Part 1Understand the ideamodels and meaning
  1. 1Plot and label each point on the grid.

    Plot these pairs and find each distance: A(-5, 3) to B(2, 3), and C(4, -2) to D(4, 4)

    -6-4-20246-6-4-20246xy
    Show your thinking
  2. 2Complete the table. Show how you found each value.

    Find the perimeter of each rectangle using its vertex coordinates.

    RectangleVerticesWidthHeightPerimeter
    Rect 1(-3, 1), (4, 1), (4, 5), (-3, 5)
    Rect 2(-2, -4), (6, -4), (6, 2), (-2, 2)
    Show your work
  3. 3Use the model to solve. Show your work.
    Total distance: 10 units|-6| = 6|4| = 4

    What is the total distance from (-6, 3) to (4, 3)?

    Show your work
    Answer:
Part 2Apply itreal-world problems
  1. 4Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    Two points are at (-3, -7) and (-3, 5). What is the distance between them?

    1. A2 units
    2. B7 units
    3. C8 units
    4. D12 units
    Show your work
  2. 5Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    What is the distance between (2, 3) and (2, 8)?

    1. A5 units
    2. B5.5 units
    3. C6 units
    4. D11 units
    Show your work
Part 3Explain and correctreasoning
  1. 6Find the mistake. Explain it, then show the correct work.

    Spot the Common Mistake

    1. 1ProblemFind the distance between (-5, 2) and (3, 2).
    2. 2Student thinkingBoth share y = 2, so subtract the x-values: 5 - 3 = 2.
    3. 3Student answerThe distance is 2 units.

    Which step has the mistake? Explain what went wrong, then show the correct work.

    Correct work
    Correct answer:

Explain your thinkingHow did you use coordinates and absolute value to find the distance between two points in the same row or column?

How did it go? ☐ 4 · I can teach it☐ 3 · I've got it☐ 2 · I need a hint☐ 1 · I need help
Grade 6 Mathematics · Unit 7: Integers, Rational Numbers, and the Coordinate PlaneStandard 6.NOS.9

Lesson 7.6Determine Distance on the Coordinate Plane

ChallengeExtension

Mastery check☐ Exceeds☐ Meets target☐ Needs practice
Name Date Period

Learning target I can find the distance between two points on the coordinate plane using absolute value.

Part 1Understand the ideamodels and meaning
  1. 1Plot and label each point on the grid.

    Plot a rectangle with one vertex in each quadrant. Label the vertices and calculate the perimeter.

    -6-4-20246-6-4-20246xy
    Show your thinking
Part 2Apply itreal-world problems
  1. 2Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    A rectangle has corners (1, 2), (1, 5), (5, 5), and (5, 2). What is its perimeter?

    1. A7 units
    2. B10 units
    3. C12 units
    4. D14 units
    Formula
    Put the numbers in
    Work it out
    Answer with its unit
  2. 3Circle the letter of the best answer. Show how you know.

    How far apart are the points (-2, 5) and (-2, -3)?

    1. A-8 units
    2. B2 units
    3. C8 units
    4. D15 units
    Show your work
Part 3Explain and correctreasoning
  1. 4Find the mistake. Explain it, then show the correct work.

    Find the Distance Error

    1. 1ProblemFind the distance between (-3, 4) and (5, 4)
    2. 2Student thinkingSubtract: 5 - 3 = 2
    3. 3Student answerThe distance is 2 units

    Which step has the mistake? Explain what went wrong, then show the correct work.

    Correct work
    Correct answer:
  2. 5Answer in complete sentences.

    A rectangle has vertices at (-4, -2), (3, -2), (3, 5), and (-4, 5). Find the length, width, perimeter, and area of the rectangle. Show your work using absolute value.

    Write your answer

Explain your thinkingHow did you use coordinates and absolute value to find the distance between two points in the same row or column?

How did it go? ☐ 4 · I can teach it☐ 3 · I've got it☐ 2 · I need a hint☐ 1 · I need help