New
New
Year 8

Degrees of accuracy

I can appreciate what is meant by a suitable degree of accuracy.

New
New
Year 8

Degrees of accuracy

I can appreciate what is meant by a suitable degree of accuracy.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. When calculating often 3 significant figures is the required degree of accuracy.
  2. When working with integers in context different degrees of accuracy may be appropriate.
  3. When working with decimals in context different degrees of accuracy may be appropriate.

Common misconception

Rounding prematurely during multi-step calculations.

Encourage the use of fractions (where possible) or the use of the 'ANS' button.

Keywords

  • Degree of accuracy - A degree of accuracy shows how precise a number or measurement is. E.g. to the nearest cm, nearest 10, 1 s.f., etc

Pupils measure the walls of the classroom and calculate the cost of repainting it. Pupils needing a challenge could calculate skirting boards, doors, door frames, window frames etc. The cost of painting these items could include paint sold in different sized tins for a different cost.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
A degree of accuracy shows how precise a number or is. For example, to the nearest cm, to the nearest 10 or to 1 significant figure.
Correct Answer: measurement, measure
Q2.
Match each number to the correct statement.
Correct Answer:100.56,1 is the first significant figure

1 is the first significant figure

Correct Answer:0.569,5 is the first significant figure

5 is the first significant figure

Correct Answer:0.0086023,8 is the first significant figure

8 is the first significant figure

Correct Answer:0.00040003,4 is the first significant figure

4 is the first significant figure

Correct Answer:3680.0036,3 is the first significant figure

3 is the first significant figure

Q3.
Round 0.0434 to 2 significant figures.
Correct Answer: 0.043
Q4.
Round 0.007006 to 3 significant figures.
Correct Answer: 0.00701
Q5.
Round 0.0896 to 2 significant figures.
Correct Answer: 0.090
Q6.
Round 0.00600736 to 3 significant figures.
Correct Answer: 0.00601

6 Questions

Q1.
A of accuracy shows how precise a number or measurement is.
Correct Answer: degree
Q2.
The average size of a secondary school in 2024 was 1050. This number is most likely to have been rounded to which degree of accuracy?
one decimal place
nearest integer
Correct answer: nearest ten
nearest hundred
nearest thousand
Q3.
The average temperature in the UK in 2024 was 10.93°C. This is most likely to have been rounded to which degree of accuracy?
nearest ten
nearest integer
1 decimal place
Correct answer: 2 decimal places
3 decimal places
Q4.
Match each situation to the most appropriate degree of accuracy.
Correct Answer:Buckets of water to fill a paddling pool,nearest integer

nearest integer

Correct Answer:Number of pupils at a primary school,nearest ten

nearest ten

Correct Answer:Number of people living in a village,nearest hundred

nearest hundred

Correct Answer:Height of Mount Everest in metres,nearest thousand

nearest thousand

Q5.
Use the exchange rate £1:$1.27 to convert $6.95 into pounds. Give your answer to an appropriate degree of accuracy.
Correct Answer: £5.47, 5.47
Q6.
Use your calculator to evaluate $$1.27 - \sqrt{15}\over16.8 + 0.06$$. Give your answer to an appropriate degree of accuracy.
0.154
0.15
Correct answer: −0.15
−0.154
−0.1543