O Level Mathematics Worksheet
Lower Bound or Upper Bound Topic
Tahir Ahmad Aitchison College
Total Questions: 5
Question 1 (6 marks)
Source: CAIE 4024/12/O/N/17, Q3
The length of a rectangle is given as 7.6 cm, correct to the nearest 0.1 cm,
and the width is 5.3 cm, correct to the nearest 0.1 cm.
1. Find the upper and lower bounds for the length and width.
2. Calculate the upper bound for the area of the rectangle.
[6 marks]
Question 2 (7 marks)
Source: Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics A (4MA1), Novem-
ber 2020, Q5c
A car travels a distance of 80 km, measured correct to the nearest km, in
a time of 1.5 hours, measured correct to the nearest 0.1 hours.
1. Find the lower bound for the speed of the car in km/h.
[7 marks]
Question 3 (8 marks)
Source: CAIE 4024/22/M/J/18, Q6
A piece of wire has a length of 12.5 m, measured to the nearest 0.1 m.
The wire is cut into four equal pieces.
1
Worksheet No 1: Lower Bound or Upper Bound
1. Calculate the upper and lower bounds for the length of one piece of
wire.
[8 marks]
Question 4 (9 marks)
Source: CAIE 4024/12/M/J/20, Q4
The mass of a box is given as 24.6 kg, correct to the nearest 0.1 kg. An-
other box weighs 15.8 kg, correct to the nearest 0.1 kg.
1. Find the lower bound for the total mass of both boxes.
[9 marks]
Question 5 (10 marks)
Source: Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics B (4MB1), June
2019, Q8
The time taken to complete a race is measured as 48.2 seconds, correct to
the nearest 0.1 seconds.
1. Find the upper and lower bounds for the time.
2. If the distance covered is measured as 400 m, correct to the nearest 1 m,
calculate the lower bound for the speed in m/s.
[10 marks]
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Worksheet No 1: Lower Bound or Upper Bound
Answers
Answer to Question 1
Upper bound for length: 7.65 cm, Lower bound for length: 7.55 cm
Upper bound for width: 5.35 cm, Lower bound for width: 5.25 cm
Upper bound for area: 7.65 × 5.35 = 40.9275 cm2
Answer to Question 2
Lower bound for distance: 79.5 km
Upper bound for time: 1.55 hours
79.5
Lower bound for speed: = 51.29 km/h
1.55
Answer to Question 3
Upper bound for wire: 12.55 m, Lower bound for wire: 12.45 m
12.55 12.45
Upper bound for one piece: = 3.1375 m, Lower bound for one piece: = 3.1125 m
4 4
Answer to Question 4
Lower bound for the mass of the first box: 24.55 kg
Lower bound for the mass of the second box: 15.75 kg
Lower bound for total mass: 24.55 + 15.75 = 40.3 kg
Answer to Question 5
Upper bound for time: 48.25 seconds, Lower bound for time: 48.15 seconds
400
Lower bound for speed: = 8.29 m/s
48.25
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Worksheet No 1: Lower Bound or Upper Bound
Solutions with Examiner Tips
Solution to Question 1
Question Statement: The length of a rectangle is given as 7.6 cm, correct
to the nearest 0.1 cm, and the width is 5.3 cm, correct to the nearest 0.1 cm.
Find the upper and lower bounds for the length and width and calculate the
upper bound for the area of the rectangle.
Step 1: Find bounds for length and width.
Upper bound for length: 7.6+0.05 = 7.65 cm, Lower bound for length: 7.6−0.05 = 7.55 cm
Upper bound for width: 5.3+0.05 = 5.35 cm, Lower bound for width: 5.3−0.05 = 5.25 cm
Step 2: Calculate the upper bound for the area.
Upper bound for area: 7.65 × 5.35 = 40.9275 cm2
Examiner Tip: Be careful to use the correct rounding when determining
bounds. Adding and subtracting half the precision interval is essential for
finding bounds.
Solution to Question 2
Question Statement: A car travels a distance of 80 km, measured correct
to the nearest km, in a time of 1.5 hours, measured correct to the nearest
0.1 hours. Find the lower bound for the speed of the car in km/h.
Step 1: Find bounds for distance and time.
Lower bound for distance: 80 − 0.5 = 79.5 km
Upper bound for time: 1.5 + 0.05 = 1.55 hours
Step 2: Calculate the lower bound for speed.
79.5
Lower bound for speed: = 51.29 km/h
1.55
Examiner Tip: Remember to use the smallest possible distance and
largest possible time when calculating the lower bound for speed.
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Worksheet No 1: Lower Bound or Upper Bound
Solution to Question 3
Question Statement: A piece of wire has a length of 12.5 m, measured to
the nearest 0.1 m. The wire is cut into four equal pieces. Calculate the upper
and lower bounds for the length of one piece of wire.
Step 1: Find bounds for the total length.
Upper bound for total length: 12.5+0.05 = 12.55 m, Lower bound: 12.5−0.05 = 12.45 m
Step 2: Divide by 4 to find bounds for one piece.
12.55 12.45
Upper bound for one piece: = 3.1375 m, Lower bound for one piece: = 3.1125 m
4 4
Examiner Tip: When dividing a value with bounds, be sure to divide
both upper and lower bounds separately to get accurate results.
Solution to Question 4
Question Statement: The mass of a box is given as 24.6 kg, correct to
the nearest 0.1 kg. Another box weighs 15.8 kg, correct to the nearest 0.1 kg.
Find the lower bound for the total mass of both boxes.
Step 1: Find the lower bounds for each box.
Lower bound for the first box: 24.6 − 0.05 = 24.55 kg
Lower bound for the second box: 15.8 − 0.05 = 15.75 kg
Step 2: Add the lower bounds.
Lower bound for total mass: 24.55 + 15.75 = 40.3 kg
Examiner Tip: Always remember to round down when calculating lower
bounds for totals.
Solution to Question 5
Question Statement: The time taken to complete a race is measured as
48.2 seconds, correct to the nearest 0.1 seconds. Find the upper and lower
bounds for the time and the lower bound for speed if the distance covered is
400 m, correct to the nearest 1 m.
Step 1: Find the bounds for time.
Upper bound for time: 48.2+0.05 = 48.25 seconds, Lower bound for time: 48.2−0.05 = 48.15 se
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Worksheet No 1: Lower Bound or Upper Bound
Step 2: Calculate the lower bound for speed.
400
Lower bound for speed: = 8.29 m/s
48.25
Examiner Tip: For speed, use the smallest possible distance and the
largest possible time when calculating the lower bound.
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Worksheet No 1: Lower Bound or Upper Bound
List of Questions and Sources
1. CAIE 4024/12/O/N/17, Q3
2. Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics A (4MA1), November
2020, Q5c
3. CAIE 4024/22/M/J/18, Q6
4. CAIE 4024/12/M/J/20, Q4
5. Pearson Edexcel IGCSE Mathematics B (4MB1), June 2019, Q8
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