Subtract positive and negative whole numbers

Answer Key - Grade 7 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.

1. 1.

   Bo's frog starts at -2 on a number line and looks very determined. Subtracting (-5) is the same as adding 5, a move of 5 right. Where does the frog land?

   3
2. 2.

   Esme's snail starts at 6 on a number line. Subtracting 4 is the same as adding (-4), a move of 4 left. Where does the snail stop?

   2
3. 3.

   Jun's toy turtle starts at -3 on a number line. Subtracting 6 is the same as adding (-6), a move of 6 left. Where does the turtle stop?

   -9
5. 4.

   Luz flips a puzzle card over. The card says 7 - 4 = 7 + ?. What number goes in place of the ?

   -4
6. 5.

   Milo rewrites a subtraction as an addition. The card says 5 - (-3) = 5 + ?. What number goes in place of the ?

   Use the picture in question 4.

   3
7. 6.

   Noah copies a puzzle from the math book. The card says (-6) - 2 = (-6) + ?. What number goes in place of the ?

   Use the picture in question 4.

   -2
8. 7.

   Tala watches two snails on a number line, at 2 and 9. How far apart are the snails?

   7
9. 8.

   A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and dots at -7 and -2. Zee's turtle rests at -7 on a number line, and a rock sits at -2. How far is the turtle from the rock?

   5
11. 9.

    Esme writes a puzzle on the whiteboard, then caps the marker with a flourish. What is 6 - (-3)?

    9
12. 10.

    Jun finds a puzzle at the back of the math book. What is (-4) - 7?

    Use the picture in question 9.

    -11