Grade 5 · Math · Lesson 40

Negative numbers in real life: temperature, elevation, and money

Negative numbers are everywhere outside the classroom. The thermometer drops below zero on a cold morning. A diver swims below sea level. Your bank balance falls below zero when you spend more than you have. In this finale lesson, you will pull together everything you know about positive and negative numbers and use them in three real-world contexts: temperature, elevation, and money.

What this lesson teaches

1Read and write negative numbers in temperature, elevation, and money contexts
2Compare and order positive and negative numbers using a number line
3Interpret what zero means in each real-life situation
4Solve everyday problems that mix deposits, withdrawals, and changes in temperature or elevation

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