Estimating and Calculating

Introduction to Rounding

"Balance of Payments Deficit $9,000,000" 

"350,000 unemployed" 

Newspapers, adverts and television often give information in numbers. However, it is unlikely that the Balance of Payments Deficit is exactly $9,000,000 or the number of unemployed is exactly 350,000. 

More likely, the Balance of Payments Deficit is more like a number such as $6,895,481 or $7,132,206. From the readers' or viewers' point of view $7,000,000 is a good approximation. Large numbers are often approximated this way. 

This process is called rounding.

Use the arrows to view the activities and examples or click the link below to download a printable guide to estimating and calculating.