APPROXIMATION

Approximations

It is not always possible to give the exact value of something.

For example the exact population of Bridgetown is179 225, it is enough give an estimated size
of the population if one wants to have an idea of the population.

A suitable estimate is 179 000, that is, the size of the population rounded to the nearest
thousand.

179 225 = 179 000 to the nearest thousand.

There are two important digits when approximating any number

(1) The check digit, the first digit to be rounded off. In the example above, 2 is the check
digit.

(2) The last digit, the last remaining digit of the exact value, 9 is the last digit in the above
example.

Rules for rounding off

(1) If the check digit is less than 5, the last digit remains unchanged.

(2) If the check digit is greater than or equal to 5, add ‘1’ to the last digit.

Examples

(1) Write 7528 to the nearest 100.

Answer 7528 = 7500 to the nearest 100. (Here the check digit 2 < 5, therefore the last
digit 5, remains unchanged.

(2) Write 56 369 to the nearest 10.

Answer 56 369 = 56 370 to the nearest 10. (Here the check digit 9  5, therefore we
must add 1 to the last digit 6.
EXERCISE 1

(1) Approximate each of the following numbers as indicated

(i) 4572 to the nearest 10 (ii) 479 to the nearest 10

(iii) 5695 to the nearest 10 (iv) 34 467 to the nearest 10

(v) 8742 to the nearest 100 (vi) 34 197 to the nearest 100

(vii) 43 420 to the nearest 100 (viii) 10 901 to the nearest 100

(ix) 82 499 to the nearest 1000 (x) 4 094 222 to the nearest 1000

(xi) 9999 to the nearest 1000 (xii) 834 to the nearest 1000

(xiii) 44 556 to the nearest 10 000 (xiv) 907 340 to the nearest 10 000

(xv) 3 400 942 to the nearest 100 000 (xv) 4 732 857 to the nearest million

Significant figures

The significant figures of a number are digits that carry meaning contributing to
its measurement resolution. This includes all digits except:

 All leading zeros; and

In any number, the leftmost digit (other than 0) is the most significant digit. The rightmost digit
is the least significant.

Approximating to a given number of significant figures

Examples

(1) Approximate each of the following to 3 significant figures

(i) 724 321 (ii) 17.067 (iii) 0.004 599

(i) 724 321 = 724 000 to 3 sig. fig.

7, 2 and 4 are the most significant figures, and 2 is the check digit. The zeros, while not being
significant must be placed as place holders. They are used so that the values of the other digits
are not changed.

(ii) 17.067 = 17.1

1, 7 and 0 are the three most significant figures. The check digit is 6(which is  5), therefore 1 is
added to the 0. The zeros to replace the 6 and 7 are not needed since their exclusion does not
affect the value of the significant digits.

(iii) 0.004 599 = 0.00460

4 is the first non-zero digit, so that makes it the most significant digit. The next two significant
figures are 5 and 9. The check digit is 9, which greater than 5. Therefore we must add 1 to the
last digit, which is also 9, (459 + 1 = 460). The 0 after the 6 is significant since it is the third
digit.

EXERCISE 2

(1) Approximate each the following to the given number of significant figures

(i) 43 452 t0 3 sig. fig. (ii) 3849 to 2 sig. fig

(iii) 54.789 to 4 sig. fig. (iv) 456.24 to 2 sig. fig.

(v) 0.0314 to 2 sig. fig. (vi) 25.045 to 4 sig. fig.

(vii) 432 456 to 4 sig. fig (viii) 8.3945 to 2 sig. fig.

(ix) 47.00925 to 4 sig. fig. (x) 734 698 to 3 sig. fig.

(xi) 0.004527 to 3 sig. fig (xii) 0.007946 to 3 sig. fig.

(xiii) 312.475 to 4 sig. fig. (xiv) 4.0029 to 3 sig. fig.

(2) Evaluate ( 4 + 3.52) ÷ 0.5 giving your answer to 2 significant figures.

6.5 x 1.38
(3) Evaluate giving your answer correct to 3 significant figures.
5.1
Approximation to a given number of decimal places.

Example

Approximate 417.0193 to 2 decimal places. This requires that the answer should have two
digits to the right of the decimal point.

417.0193 = 417.02 to 2 decimal places

EXERCISE 3

(1) Approximate each of the following to the given number of significant figures.

(i) 7.345 to 2 decimal places. (ii) 7.40925 to 3 decimal places.

(iii) 7.7421 to 1 decimal place. (iv) 0.03091 to 2 decimal places.

(v) 0.00951 to 2 decimal places. (vi) 8.54388 to 4 decimal places.

(vii) 12.00568 to 1 decimal place. (viii) 18.23666 to 3 decimal places.

(ix) 25.56 to the nearest whole number. (x) 3.099 to the nearest whole number.

(2) Evaluate each of the following, giving your answer correct to 2 decimal places.

(i) 2.35 x 1.29 (ii) 14.971 ÷ 0.25

4.5 x 2.1 3 - 1.2

(1)

(i) 4570 (ii) 480 (iii) 5700 (iv) 34 470

(v) 8700 (vi) 34 200 (vii) 43 400 (viii) 10 900

(ix) 82 000 (x) 4 094 000 (xi) 10 000 (xii) 1000

(xiii) 40 000 (xiv) 910 000 (xv) 3 400 000 (xv) 5 000 000

EXERCISE 2

(1)

(i) 43 400 (ii) 3800 (iii) 54.79 (iv) 460

(v) 0.031 (vi) 25.05 (vii) 432 500 (viii) 8.4

(ix) 47.01 (x) 735 000 (xi) 0.00453 (xii) 0.00795

(xiii) 312.5 (xiv) 4.00

(2) 15 (3) 1.76

EXERCISE 3

(1)

(i) 7.35 (ii) 7.409 (iii) 7.7 (iv) 0.03

(v) 0.01 (vi) 8.544 (vii) 12.0 (viii) 18.237

(ix) 26 (x) 3

(2) (i) 3.03 (ii) 59.88 (iii) 1.58 (iv) 0.48