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Year 8 - Maths

Rounding to three decimal places

Estimation and rounding

Unit Summary

This unit helps pupils understand rounding to different decimal places, and significant figures. Pupils will also learn how to truncate numbers and understand the contexts in which these skills are useful. The unit ends will an exploration of rounding and inequality errors.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to round numbers to three decimal places.

Key Notes

  • Numbers with any number of decimal places can be represented on a number line.
  • Rounding is useful to estimate numbers to a degree of accuracy.
  • Numbers can be rounded to 3 decimal places.
  • Knowing a number has been rounded means you can give examples of what the unrounded number might have been.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • Round: To change a number into another number that is approximately the same value but is easier to work with. E.g. round 561 to the nearest 10 is 560.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Errors when a zero is required when rounding. E.g 5.99 rounds to 6 to 1 d.p.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Solve this in steps: explain the method from this lesson and why each step matters.

Numbers with any number of decimal places can be represented on a number line. Rounding is useful to estimate numbers to a degree of accuracy.

2. Use this key word in a maths sentence and explain it clearly. 'Round'

To change a number into another number that is approximately the same value but is easier to work with. E.g. round 561 to the nearest 10 is 560. Use this word when showing your method, then check your final answer is reasonable.

3. Spot and fix this common maths mistake.

Mistake: Errors when a zero is required when rounding. E.g 5.99 rounds to 6 to 1 d.p. Correction: Embedding that 6 and 6.0 may be written like that to convey the accuracy they've been rounded to. To show that 5.99 has been rounded to 1 d.p. we write it as 6.0 not 6.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 Maths guide library.