Vocabulary Review Sheet Lesson – Absolute Value and Fairness in Education

How to Use

• Read each term before completing the quiz.
• Study how each word connects math, real life, and fairness.
• Notice that absolute value measures distance —not direction — and fairness is aboutHow to Use

• Read each term before watching or reviewing the lesson video.
• Study how each word connects math, real life, and fairness.
• Notice that absolute value measures distance —not direction — and fairness is about how far schools are from equal opportunity.
• Keep this sheet in your Equity in Numbers Student Journal for self-study and quiz review.

Absolute Value

• Definition: The distance a number is from 0 on a number line; always positive.
• Math Examples:
  • |−7| = 7
  • |+7| = 7
  • |82 − 75| = |+7| = 7
• Real-Life Example: The district checks how far each school’s test score is from 75%.
• Fairness Example: Absolute value lets us compare all schools fairly — it measures how far each one is from the goal, not which side they’re on.

Distance

• Definition: How far apart two values are on a number line or scale.
• Math Examples:
  • Distance = |75 − 68| = 7
  • Distance = |75 − 82| = 7
  • Distance = |90 − 75| = 15
• Real-Life Example: The farther a score is from 75%, the greater the improvement needed.
• Fairness Example: Measuring distance helps identify which schools are closer to or farther from educational goals.

Goal

• Definition: The target value a group aims to reach.
• Math Examples:
  • Target = 75; |68 − 75| = 7 away
  • Target = 75; |82 − 75| = 7 away
  • Target = 75; |78 − 75| = 3 away
• Real-Life Example: Every school’s goal is to reach 75% proficiency.
• Fairness Example: Setting the same goal ensures all schools are measured by an equal standard of achievement.

Difference

• Definition: The result of subtracting one number from another; shows change.
• Math Examples:
  • 68 − 75 = −7
  • 82 − 75 = +7
  • 70 − 75 = −5
• Real-Life Example: The difference between a school’s score and the goal shows how much growth is needed.
• Fairness Example: Differences reveal gaps between schools and highlight where support is most needed.

Fairness

• Definition: Treating everyone justly so each has what they need to meet the same standard.
• Math Examples:
  • |−7| = |+7| → both 7 away from the goal
  • |−3| = 3 → closer to goal
  • |−12| = 12 → farther from goal
• Real-Life Example: Two schools may be below or above the goal but still equally distant from it.
• Fairness Example: Fairness means focusing on distance from opportunity instead of assigning blame for direction.

Gap

• Definition: The numerical or performance difference between two values or groups.
• Math Examples:
  • |82 − 68| = 14
  • |75 − 63| = 12
  • |78 − 70| = 8
• Real-Life Example: The gap between schools’ test scores shows inequality in outcomes.
• Fairness Example: Closing score gaps is essential to achieving equity across districts.

Closer / Farther

• Definition: Comparison terms describing which value is nearer to or farther from the goal.
• Math Examples:
  • |78 − 75| = 3 → closer
  • |63 − 75| = 12 → farther
  • |70 − 75| = 5 → moderate distance
• Real-Life Example: School D (78%) is closer to the district goal than School E (63%).
• Fairness Example: Identifying who is closer or farther helps educators target resources fairly.

Support

• Definition: The extra help given to bring numbers or results closer to the target.
• Math Examples:
  • 63 + 12 = 75 → needs 12 points of support
  • 70 + 5 = 75 → needs 5 points of support
  • 78 − 3 = 75 → 3 above target → share strategies
• Real-Life Example: Schools farther below the goal receive tutoring or funding support.
• Fairness Example: Support ensures that every learner has an equal chance to meet or exceed the target.

Equity

• Definition: Providing what each school or student needs to reach the shared goal.
• Math Examples:
  • (68 + 7 = 75) → equity support = 7
  • (63 + 12 = 75) → equity support = 12
  • (70 + 5 = 75) → equity support = 5
• Real-Life Example: Schools below the goal receive proportional help based on their distance from 75%.
• Fairness Example: Equity means adjusting resources so that all schools can stand at the same level of success.

Absolute Distance from Goal

• Definition: The total number of points away from a target, ignoring direction.
• Math Examples:
  • |68 − 75| = 7
  • |82 − 75| = 7
  • |63 − 75| = 12
• Real-Life Example: This shows how far each school’s test score is from the goal, regardless of being higher or lower.
• Fairness Example: Measuring absolute distance helps educators focus on how much improvement is needed, not on which side of average a school falls.