Date: ______/______/ 2009 Marks

Worksheet 5: Estimation and Approximation

1 Basic Question

(a) Round off 6.236 to 2 significant figures.

(b) Round off 2.5945 to 3 decimal places.
(c) Round off 768 254 to 3 significant figures.
3
(d) Write down, correct to the nearest whole number, the value of 998

Ans: (a) 6.2 (b) 2.595 (c) 768 000 (d) 10

2 Basic Question

Estimate, correct to 2 significant figures, the value of 30.02 ×19.99 − 78.23 .

Solution:

30.02 ×19.99 − 78.23

≈ 30.0 × 20.0 − 78.2
= 600 − 78.2
= 521.8
≈ 520
[Anglican High School/2007]
Ans: 520

3 Intermediate Question

10.49 × 3 7.995
Estimate the value of , giving your answer correct to 2
16.04
significant figures.

Solution:

10.49 × 3 7.995 10.5 × 3 8.00

≈
16.04 16.0
10.5 × 2
=
4
21
=
4
= 5.25
≈ 5.3
[Cedar Girls’ Sec School /2008]
Ans: 5.3

© Victoria School Math Department

4 Intermediate Question

13 × 3 26.8
Estimate, correct to 1 significant figure, the value of .
0.9012 + 0.693
Solution:

13 × 3 26.8
0.9012 + 0.693
13 × 3 27
≈
0.902 + 0.69
13 × 3
=
0.81 + 0.69
39
=
1.5
= 26
≈ 30

Ans: 30

5 Intermediate Question

17.31 + 13.13
Estimate, correct to 1 significant figure, the value of .
4.041× 898.9

Solution:
17.31 + 13.13
4.041× 898.9
17 + 13
≈
4.0 × 900
30
=
4 × 30
= 0.25
≈ 0.3

Ans: 0.3

© Victoria School Math Department