You pilot a research submarine recovering lost artifacts from an ocean trench. Split your supplies into fractional pieces, track your depth below sea level, and don't run out of air.
Dividing by a fraction asks "how many pieces of that size fit?" Negative numbers track values below zero (depth below the surface), and absolute value |x| is the distance from zero — so −50 m is deeper than −20 m, and |−50| > |−20|.
Slice your raw material into equal fractional pieces and count them. Dividing by 1/d gives more pieces, not fewer.
Drive the sub up and down. Watch the signed depth and its absolute value (distance from the surface).
Your sub is stuck at −48 m with a battery at ¾ charge of a 60 kWh pack. Thrusters burn 0.9 kWh per meter of ascent. Get to the surface (0 m) and report your reserve.
Grounded in CA CCSS-M, Grade 6 · 6.NS (dividing fractions, negative numbers, absolute value, multi-digit decimals). Part of the 4-D series.