What Does It Mean to Estimate Products?
Estimating helps us get close to the right answer without doing exact calculations!
When we estimate products in multiplication, we round numbers to make them easier to work with, then multiply them. It's like making a smart guess that's close to the real answer!
How to Estimate Products
1️⃣ Round the multi-digit number to the nearest ten or hundred
2️⃣ Multiply the rounded number by the 1-digit number
3️⃣ Check if your estimate makes sense!
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: Estimate 47 × 4
First, let's round 47 to the nearest ten:
Now multiply the rounded number by 4:
50 × 4 = 200
The exact answer is 188, so our estimate of 200 is pretty close!
Example 2: Estimate 324 × 3
First, let's round 324 to the nearest hundred:
Now multiply the rounded number by 3:
300 × 3 = 900
The exact answer is 972, so our estimate of 900 is in the right ballpark!
Your Turn!
Estimate 68 × 5:
Parent Tips 🌟
- Make it real: Use grocery prices to practice estimation ("If apples cost 48¢ each and we buy 4, about how much will we pay?")
- Estimation games: Play "Estimation Challenge" where you take turns making and checking estimates for real-life multiplication problems
- Show the value: Demonstrate how estimation helps quickly check if exact answers make sense (great for catching calculator mistakes!)