What is Estimation?
Estimation is like making a smart guess!
When we estimate sums and differences, we're finding approximate answers by rounding numbers to make calculations easier. This is super helpful when you need a quick answer or want to check if your exact calculation makes sense.
How to Estimate Sums and Differences
1️⃣ Round each number to the nearest ten, hundred, or thousand
2️⃣ Add or subtract the rounded numbers
3️⃣ Check if your estimate makes sense with the original numbers
Let's Practice Together!
Example 1: Shopping Estimation
You want to buy a backpack for $47 and a lunchbox for $32. About how much money will you need?
Round each price to the nearest $10:
$47 → (nearest $10)
$32 → (nearest $10)
Example 2: Road Trip Estimation
A family drives 583 miles on Monday and 429 miles on Tuesday. About how many more miles did they drive on Monday?
Round each distance to the nearest 100:
583 → (nearest 100)
429 → (nearest 100)
Parent Tips 🌟
- Make it real: Practice estimation during shopping trips by having your child estimate the total cost of items in your cart.
- Estimation jar: Fill a jar with small objects and have your child estimate how many are inside, then count to check accuracy.
- Round first: Encourage your child to estimate answers before calculating exactly - this builds number sense and helps catch calculation mistakes.