StudyWiz home
Sign inStart free

Absolute value worksheet

Grade 6 math, Common Core 6.NS.C.7c. 10 problems with an answer key and worked steps. Free to print, and you can make new problems any time.

By the StudyWiz teamUpdated October 23, 2026How we write our pages

NameDate

Absolute value

Grade 6 math, Common Core 6.NS.C.7c

Find each absolute value or compare.

  1. 1.
    |56|
  2. 2.
    Write <, > or = to compare: |−5| ___ |−11|
  3. 3.
    Write <, > or = to compare: |−4| ___ |8|
  4. 4.
    |−33|
  5. 5.
    A diver is at −46 feet and a bird is flying at 54 feet. Which one is farther from sea level, and by how many feet?
  6. 6.
    Write <, > or = to compare: |10| ___ |14|
  7. 7.
    |−5| + |−13|
  8. 8.
    A diver is at −37 feet and a bird is flying at 8 feet. Which one is farther from sea level, and by how many feet?
  9. 9.
    Write <, > or = to compare: |−2| ___ |4|
  10. 10.
    A diver is at −53 feet and a bird is flying at 35 feet. Which one is farther from sea level, and by how many feet?
Free worksheets for grades 6 to 8 from StudyWiz, with answer keys: studywiz.online/worksheets

Answer key: Absolute value

Grade 6 math. Each answer has a few worked steps, to help check the method as well as the answer.

  1. 1. 56

  2. 2. |−5| < |−11|

    5 < 11

  3. 3. |−4| < |8|

    4 < 8

  4. 4. 33

  5. 5. The bird, by 8 feet

    |−46| = 46, |54| = 54

  6. 6. |10| < |14|

    10 < 14

  7. 7. 18

    5 + 13 = 18

  8. 8. The diver, by 29 feet

    |−37| = 37, |8| = 8

  9. 9. |−2| < |4|

    2 < 4

  10. 10. The diver, by 18 feet

    |−53| = 53, |35| = 35

The answer key prints on its own page. You’re welcome to print and copy these worksheets for your own kids or class.

About absolute value

The absolute value of a number is its distance from 0 on the number line, so it is never negative. Both 7 and −7 are 7 units from 0, so |7| = 7 and |−7| = 7. Absolute value is handy for questions like “how far below sea level” or “how much was owed”.

Worked example 1

Write <, > or = to compare: |−15| ___ |−1|
  1. Step 1.15 > 1

Answer: |−15| > |−1|

Worked example 2

A diver is at −63 feet and a bird is flying at 11 feet. Which one is farther from sea level, and by how many feet?
  1. Step 1.|−63| = 63, |11| = 11

Answer: The diver, by 52 feet

Worked example 3

|−16| + |6|
  1. Step 1.16 + 6 = 22

Answer: 22

Watch out for

  • Absolute value is a distance, so the answer is never negative.
  • Work out what is inside the bars first, then take the absolute value.
  • A bigger absolute value means farther from 0, not a bigger number: −20 is less than 3, but |−20| is greater than |3|.

Practice absolute value online

On StudyWiz, your kid can practice absolute value with 5-question quizzes that are checked as they go, with an explanation for every answer. When a homework problem is the trouble, Wiz gives a hint for each step instead of the answer.

More grade 6 math worksheets

More from The number system:

Other grade 6 topics:

See all 6th grade math worksheets, or switch to grade 7 or grade 8.

Keep reading

Try Wiz with tonight’s homework

Free to start, no card needed. Each kid gets 3 homework questions, 5 practice quizzes and 1 writing review a day on the free plan.

Start freeSee pricing