Estimating Sums and Differences

For estimating sums and differences in the number we use the rounded numbers for estimations to its nearest tens, hundred, and thousand.


Estimating Sums: 

In many practical calculations, only an approximation is required rather than an exact answer. To do this, numbers are rounded off to a given place value of ten, hundred, thousand ... 

Example on Estimating Sums:

1. There are 74 coconut cookies and 48 chocolate cookies in a jar. Estimate the total number of cookies.

Round the numbers to the nearest ten and add.

Rounded to TENS

Estimating Sums


There are approximately 120 cookies.

The actual number of cookies is 122.

The estimate differs from the actual by 2.


2. There are 275 students in class IVth and 238 students in class Vth. Estimate the total number of students in the two classes.

We can round the numbers either to the nearest ten or the nearest hundred and add to get an estimate.

Rounded to TENS

Estimating

There are approximately 520 students.

The estimate differs from the actual by 7.

Rounded to HUNDREDS

Rounded to HUNDREDS


There are approximately 500 students. 

The estimate differs from the actual by 13. 


Estimating Difference: 

To estimate the difference, we round-off each number to the nearest tens and then subtract the rounded-off numbers.

Let us estimate 48 - 22.

48 is nearer to 50 than 40. So, 48 is rounded up to 50.

The number 22 is nearer to 20 than 30.

So, 22 is rounded down to 20.

Estimating Difference


When we subtract a 2-digit number from another 2-digit number, we begin subtracting from the ones place.

For estimating the difference of two 2-digit numbers, just subtract the tens place. The actual answer may be a little more or a little less, but the difference will never be more than 10. That's a fair estimate.


Example on Estimating Difference:

1. Estimate the difference between 59 and 27.

When we estimate the difference between 59 and 27, we subtract the tens (50-20) and say that the difference is about 30.

Actual difference = 59 - 27 = 32


2. There were 82 mangoes in a bag. 38 rotten mangoes had to be thrown away. Estimate the number of good mangoes that remained in the bag?

8 tens less 3 tens = 5 tens. So about 50 good mangoes remained in the bag.

Actual difference = 82 - 38 = 44



3. The school library has 284 science books and 268 social sciences books.

Estimate the difference in the number of books.

Rounded to TENS

Estimating Difference

The difference is approximately 20 books.

The estimate differs from the actual number by 4.

Rounded to HUNDREDS

Rounded nNumbers

In this case, rounding number to hundreds will not be meaningful as the difference will be 0.


Examples on estimating sums and differences of the numbers:

1. The number of students in Classes III, IV and V are 154,129 and 118. Estimate the total number of students in the three classes taken together.

Solution:

The rounded numbers are used to estimate.

So         154     ⇒     200     being more than 150

            129     ⇒     100     being less than 150

            118     ⇒     100     being less than 150

                              400     So total number as estimated is 400

[Note: Actual number is 401, which is one more than 400]

Answer: 400



2. There are 479 girls and 729 boys in a school. Estimate the total number of students in the school.

Solution:

For estimation the numbers may be taken to the nearest ten or hundred.

(i)         479     ⇒      480

            729     ⇒      730

          1208     ⇒     1210 

[Note: The estimated number is 1210 which is 2 more than the actual number]

(ii)         479     ⇒      500

            729      ⇒      700

          1208      ⇒     1200 

[Note: The estimated number is 1200 which is 8 less than the actual number]



3. There are 216 pages in the mathematics book of Class IV and 196 pages in the English book of the same class. Estimate the difference in the number of pages of the two books.

Solution:

We use the rounded numbers for estimation.

             216     ⇒     220

           - 196     ⇒     200

               20     ⇒       20 

The estimated difference in number of pages is 20.
The actual difference is also 20.


4. Round off the numbers 324 and 777 to the nearest 10s. Find the estimated and actual difference.

Solution:

Rounding off the numbers to nearest 10s

324 320                           777 780

Hence, 780 – 320 = 460 is the estimated difference.


Actual Difference

Actual Difference

777 – 324 = 453 is the actual difference.


5. Round off the numbers 423 and 885 to the nearest 100s. Find the estimated and actual difference.

Solution:

Rounding off the numbers to nearest 100s

885 900                           423 400

Hence, 900 – 400 = 500 is the estimated difference.


Actual Difference

Actual Difference Problem

885 – 423 = 462 is the actual difference.


Questions and Answers on Estimating Sums and Differences:

I. Find the estimated and exact difference for each of the given. First one is done for you.

Estimating Sums and Differences

II. In a toy factory different types of toys are manufactured. Given below is the number of different types of toys made in a month. Observe the data and answer the questions that follow.

Type of Toy

Dolls

Cars

Soft Toys

Super Heroes

Quantity Manufactured

6731

5974

6585

6842

(i) What is the difference between the number of dolls and cars made in a month? Give your answer to nearest 10 and 100.

                                            Dolls                            Cars

          (a) Nearest 10s:    ____________            ____________

          (b) Nearest 100s:  ____________            ____________

(ii) If 1600 Super Heroes are sold in the market, then how many are left for sale?

(iii) How many more soft toys should be made in the factory to make the number 7000?


Answer:

(i) (a) 6730; 5970

    (b) 6700; 6000

(ii) 5242

(iii) 415


III. Round off the given numbers to the nearest 10s. Find the estimated difference and actual difference.


Estimated Difference

Actual Difference

(i) 254 from 875

__________

__________

(ii) 214 from 784

__________

__________

(iii) 657 from 954

__________

__________

(iv) 21 from 287

__________

__________

Answer:

III. (i) 630, 621

(ii)  570, 570

(iii) 290, 297

(iv)  270, 266


IV. Round off the given numbers to the nearest 100s. Find the estimated difference and actual difference.


Estimated Difference

Actual Difference

(i) 121 from 145

__________

__________

(ii) 124 from 448

__________

__________

(iii) 215 from 659

__________

__________

(iv) 347 from 728

__________

__________

Answer:

IV. (i) 0, 24

(ii) 300, 324

(iii) 500, 444

(iv) 400, 381

Related Concept

Addition

Word Problems on Addition

Subtraction

Check for Subtraction and Addition

Word Problems Involving Addition and Subtraction

Estimating Sums and Differences

Find the Missing Digits

Multiplication

Multiply a Number by a 2-Digit Number

Multiplication of a Number by a 3-Digit Number

Multiply a Number

Estimating Products

Word Problems on Multiplication

Multiplication and Division

Terms Used in Division

Division of Two-Digit by a One-Digit Numbers

Division of Four-Digit by a One-Digit Numbers

Division by 10 and 100 and 1000

Dividing Numbers

Estimating the Quotient

Division by Two-Digit Numbers

Word Problems on Division





4th Grade Math Activities

From Estimating Sums and Differences to HOME PAGE




Didn't find what you were looking for? Or want to know more information about Math Only Math. Use this Google Search to find what you need.



New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. Ask a Question or Answer a Question.

Share this page: What’s this?

Recent Articles

  1. Place Value | Place, Place Value and Face Value | Grouping the Digits

    Oct 04, 24 09:47 AM

    Place Value of 3-Digit Numbers
    The place value of a digit in a number is the value it holds to be at the place in the number. We know about the place value and face value of a digit and we will learn about it in details. We know th…

    Read More

  2. Worksheet on Subtraction | Practice the Questions | Free Answers

    Oct 04, 24 01:28 AM

    In worksheet on subtraction, all grade students can practice the questions on subtracting numbers with more than two digits. This exercise sheet on subtraction can be practiced by the students

    Read More

  3. Subtraction Word Problems - 2-Digit Numbers | Subtraction Problems

    Oct 03, 24 03:22 PM

    Understand the concept on subtraction word problems - 2-digit numbers for the second grade. Read the question carefully to subtract the two-digit numbers to find the differences and follow the

    Read More

  4. Worksheet on Checking Subtraction Using Addition | Free Answers | Math

    Oct 03, 24 02:22 PM

    Checking Subtraction using Addition
    Here we can use addition to check the answer for the subtraction. Subtract ans check your answer. Find the difference and check your answer using addition.

    Read More

  5. Check for Subtraction and Addition | Checking Subtraction | Problems

    Oct 03, 24 01:13 PM

    Checking Subtraction with Addition
    We will learn to check for subtraction and addition answers after solving. Difference of two numbers is correct when the sum of the subtrahend number and the difference is equal to the minuend.

    Read More