Multi-step problems with positive and negative numbers, and checking they make sense
Grade 7 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
At 6 p.m., Ari's thermometer reads -3.5°F. The temperature changes by -1.25 degrees each hour for 3 hours. What is the total change, and what does the thermometer read then?
Bo's kite is 12 m high. Each minute its height changes by -1.5 m, for 5 minutes. What is the total change in height, and how high is the kite then?
A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.5. A dot at 12, and one arrow of -1.5. A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.5. A dot at 12, and one arrow of -1.5. 0 -1.5 Esme's robot starts at -2.5 on a number line. Each step changes its place by 0.75, for 7 steps. What is the total change, and where does the robot end?
A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.25. A dot at -2.5, and one arrow of 0.75. A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.25. A dot at -2.5, and one arrow of 0.75. A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.25 −3.5 −3 −2.5 −2 −1.5 −1 −0.5 0 0.5 1 0.75 Jun watches a whale at -6.5 m (below the surface is negative). Each second its depth changes by -2.5 m, for 3 seconds. What is the total change, and where is it then?
A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.5. A dot at -6.5, and one arrow of -2.5. A number line with 0 marked and ticks every 0.5. A dot at -6.5, and one arrow of -2.5. −8 −7 −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 -2.5 Read this first
Use this
A table of four rows. Row | As given | As a decimal: 1 | -3/4 | -0.75; 2 | 0.5 | 0.5; 3 | -1/4 | -0.25; 4 | 2 | 2.
Luz logs how a pond's water level changes each day, in cm. The table shows each change two ways. What is the total change for the four days?
Use this
A table of four rows. Row | As given | As a decimal: 1 | 1/2 | 0.5; 2 | -1.25 | -1.25; 3 | 1.5 | 1.5; 4 | -3 | -3.
Milo logs how the temperature changes on four days, in degrees. The table shows each change two ways. What is the total change?
Use this
A table of four rows. Row | As given | As a decimal: 1 | 2.5 | 2.5; 2 | -1/4 | -0.25; 3 | -3/4 | -0.75; 4 | 1/4 | 0.25.
Pia logs how the thickness of a pond's ice changes on four days, in cm. The table shows each change two ways. What is the total change?
Ren multiplies (-4.9) × 3.1 on a phone calculator, but the screen is smudged. Use a quick estimate. Which answer makes sense?
- -1.519
- -151.9
- -15.19
- 15.19
Zee multiplies (-3.9) × (-5.2) in pencil, but the answer is smudged. Use a quick estimate. Which answer makes sense?
- 2.028
- 20.28
- -20.28
- 202.8
Ari multiplies 4.2 × (-3.8) before the bell, but the answer is smudged. Use a quick estimate. Which answer makes sense?
- -1.596
- -15.96
- 15.96
- -159.6