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Grade 6 Math · Problem type

How much warmer or colder?

Use this for the change from −5 °C up to 3 °C, or a drop from 8 °C to −2 °C.

Diagram

−10−8−6−4−202468108 °C
From −5 °C to 3 °C: 8 °C up.
This is an example. Type your own values to start a new problem.
Morning temperature
example · °C
Afternoon temperature
example · °C
Change
calculated · °C

Formulas

The change from −5 to 3 is 8
Afternoon temperature − morning temperature = change

Assumptions

•
The change is how far the temperature moves on the thermometer: positive when it rises, negative when it drops.
•
Below 0 and above 0: add the two distances from 0.
•
A higher temperature is warmer: −3 °C > −7 °C because −3 is higher up.
•
Temperatures from −40 °C to 50 °C.

Step-by-step

WE KNOW
Morning temperature: −5 °C Afternoon temperature: 3 °C
FIND
change
Step 1 · Find change
The change from −5 to 3 is ?
Afternoon temperature − morning temperature = change
Count up the thermometer from the morning to the afternoon.
From −5 up to 0 is 5
From 0 up to 3 is 3
5 + 3 = 8
Change = 8 °C (3 °C > −5 °C: warmer)
Check
Put the numbers back in. Both sides should match.
−5 + 8 = 3 ✓
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