Subtract positive and negative whole numbers
Grade 7 Math Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer, or write your answer on the line.
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?
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?
A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and a dot at 6. The rule is labeled 'subtract 4'. A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and a dot at 6. The rule is labeled 'subtract 4'. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 subtract 4 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?
A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and a dot at -3. The rule is labeled 'subtract 6'. A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and a dot at -3. The rule is labeled 'subtract 6'. −6 −5 −4 −3 −2 −1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 subtract 6 Kira's toy boat floats at 5 on a number line river. Subtracting (-7) is the same as adding 7, a move of 7 right. Where does the boat stop?
A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and a dot at 5. The rule is labeled 'subtract (-7)'. A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and a dot at 5. The rule is labeled 'subtract (-7)'. 0 subtract (-7) A number line with 0 marked and a tick at each whole number. A number line with 0 marked and a tick at each whole number. 0 Luz flips a puzzle card over. The card says 7 - 4 = 7 + ?. What number goes in place of the ?
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 5.
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 5.
Pia fills in a star-shaped puzzle. The card says (-2) - (-8) = (-2) + ?. What number goes in place of the ?
Use the picture in question 5.
Tala watches two snails on a number line, at 2 and 9. How far apart are the snails?
A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and dots at 2 and 9. A number line with 0 marked, a tick at each whole number, and dots at 2 and 9. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Jun finds a puzzle at the back of the math book. What is (-4) - 7?
A number line from -12 to 12 with 0 marked and a tick at each whole number. A number line from -12 to 12 with 0 marked and a tick at each whole number. −12 −10 −8 −6 −4 −2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12