Week 4: Approximation and
Estimation.
Objectives: At the end of the lesson, the
pupils should be able to:
1. Round off numbers to the nearest
10,100,1000, 10000, …
2. Correct to 1,2,3,4,5 decimal places
3. Write to 2,3,4,5,significant figures.
Approximation means rounding off numbers.
Rules:
1. Numbers between 1 and 4 are rounded down ( meaning they
are replaced by zero ).
2. Numbers between 5 and 9 are rounded up ( they are replaced
by zero and 1 is added to the digit before it).
Examples:
e.g. H T U
2 3 4
Repeat below Add zero Replace by zero
2 3 0
234 ~ 230. Meaning 234 is approximately 230 when rounded
off to the nearest tens.
Examples:
Round off 123456 to the nearest:
a) Tens b) hundreds c) thousands d) ten thousands e)
hundred thousands
Solution:
1. Round off 123456 to the nearest tens.
HTh TTh Th H T U
1 2 3 4 5 6
Repeat Repeat Repeat Repeat Add 1 Round up and
replace by zero
1 2 3 4 6 0
123456 ~ `123460 when rounded off to the nearest tens.
2. To the nearest hundred
HTh TTh Th H T U
1 2 3 4 5 6
Repeat Repeat Repeat Add 1 Round up and Replace
replace by zero by zero
1 2 3 5 0 0
123456 ~ 123500 when rounded off to the
nearest 100.
3. To The nearest thousand.
HTh TTh Th H T U
1 2 3 4 5 6
Repeat Repeat Add zero Round down, Replace by Replace
and replace by zero by zero
zero
1 2 3 0 0 0
123456 ~ 123000 when rounded off to the
nearest thousand.
4. To the nearest tens of thousand.
HTh TTh Th H T U
1 2 3 4 5 6
Repeat Add zero Round down Replace Replace Replace
and replace by zero by zero by zero
by zero
1 2 0 0 0 0
123456 ~ 120000 when rounded off to the nearest
tens of thousand.
Evaluation.
Round off 54321 to the nearest:
1. Tens
2. Hundreds
3. Thousands
4. Ten thousands.
Home work.
Approximate 384629 to the nearest:
1. Tens
2. Hundreds
3. Thousands
4. Tens of thousand
5. Hundreds of thousand.
Yes I can
Approximate 9624501 to the nearest:
1. Tens
2. Hundreds
3. Thousands
4. Tens of thousand
5. Hundreds of thousand.
2nd Period: Approximation to different
decimal places.
Examples: Approximate 2.9456 to:
a) 1 decimal place or nearest tenth
b) 2 decimal places or nearest hundredth
c) 3 decimal places or nearest thousandth
d) Nearest whole number.
Solution:
NOTE: d.p means decimal place(s).
1. 2.9456 to 1 decimal place.
U . Tth Hth Thth TThth
2 . 9 4 5 6
Repeat . Add zero Round Replace by Replace by
down and zero zero
replace by
zero
2 . 9 0 0 0
2. 9456 is approximately 2.9 when rounded off to 1 decimal
place or to the nearest tenth.
2) 2.9456 to 2 decimal places/nearest
hundredth.
U . Tth Hth Thth TThth
2 . 9 4 5 6
Repeat Repeat Repeat Add 1 Round up Replace by
and replace zero
by zero
2 . 9 5 0 0
2.9456 = 2.95 when rounded off to 2 decimal
places or to the nearest hundredth.
3) 2.9456 to 3 decimal places/nearest
thousandth.
U . Tth Hth Thth TThth
2 . 9 4 5 6
Repeat Repeat Repeat Repeat Add 1 Round
up and
replace
by zero
2 . 9 4 6 0
= 2.946 when rounded off to 3 decimal places.
4) 2. 9456 to the nearest whole number.
U . Tth Hth Thth TThth
2 . 9 4 5 6
Add 1 Repeat Round up Replace Replace Replace
and by zero by zero by zero
replace
by zero
3 . 0 0 0 0
= 3 when rounded off to the nearest whole
number.
Evaluation.
APPROXIMATE 82.3461
a) To the nearest tenth
b) To the nearest hundredth
c) To the nearest thousandth
Home work.
Mathematics Inside Out
Page 110
Exercise 13.2
Number 1b,2b,3b,4b and 12b.
3rd Period: Approximating to significant
figures.
Note:
1. Zero that ends a decimal point is insignificant.
e.g. 2.5600 3 significant figures
2 decimal places
not significant.
2. If a number begins with zero(s) before non-
zero digits, the zero(s) are not significant.
e.g. 00249 3 significant figures ( sig.fig.)
not significant.
3. Zeros are only significant when they are between
non-zero digits.
e.g. 24.6009 6 sig.fig.
significant.
Examples:
Approximate 24592 to:
a) 1 sig.fig. b) 2 sig.fig. c) 3 sig.fig.
solution
1)34592 to 1 sig.fig.
3 is the first significant figure
TTh Te H T U
3 4 5 9 2
Add Round down Replace by Replace by Replace by
zero and replace by zero zero zero
zero
3 0 0 0 0
34592 = 30000 when rounded off to 1 sig.fig.
2) 34592 = 35000 to 2 sig.fig.
4 is the second sig.fig.
TTh Th H T U
3 4 5 9 2
Repea Add Round up and replace by Replace by Replace by
t 1 zero. zero zero
3 5 0 0 0
34592 = 35000 when approximated to 2 sig.fig.
3) 34592 to 3 sig.fig
TTh Th H T U
3 4 5 9 2
Repeat Repeat Add 1 Round up and replace by Replace by
zero zero
3 4 6 0 0
= 34600 when rounded off to 3 sig.fig.
34592 to 4 sig.fig.
TTh Th H T U
3 4 5 9 2
Repeat Repeat Repeat Add zero Replace by
zero
3 4 5 9 0
= 34590 when rounded off to 4 sig.fig.
NOTE: zeros in whole numbers cannot be
discarded.
Evaluation
Mathematics Inside Out
Pages 111 and 112
Exercise13.3
Number 3a to 3e
HOME WORK
Mathematics Inside Out
Page 112
Exercise 13.3
Number 6a to 6eand 9a to 9e.
Significant Figures for Decimals.
Examples: Approximate 0.0024015 to 1,2,3 and 4
sig.fig
Solution:
1. 0.0024015 to 1 sig.fig. is 2 = 0.002
The first significant figure
0 . 0 0 2 4 0 1 5
Repeat Repeat Repeat Repeat Add Round Replace Replace Replace
zero down by zero by zero by zero
and
replace
by zero
0 . 0 0 2 0 0 0 0
2) 0.0024015 = 0.0024 to 2 sig.fig.
3) 0.0024015 = 0.00240 to 3 sig.fig.
4) 0.0024015 = 0.002402 to 4 sig.fig.
More example: Approximate 15.6758 to 2 sig.fig.
15.6758
the second sig.fig. so 6 will be rounded
up, replaced be zero and 1 will be added 1.
15.658 = 16 when rounded of to 2 sig.fig.
Evaluation
Mathematics Inside Out
Pages 111 and 112
Exercise 13.3
Number 1a&b,2a&b,3a&b.
Home work
Mathematics Inside Out
Page 112
Exercise 13.3
Number 10 to 15.
