Checking and securing understanding of rounding and truncating
I can estimate a value by rounding or truncating to a given degree of accuracy.
Checking and securing understanding of rounding and truncating
I can estimate a value by rounding or truncating to a given degree of accuracy.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- The first significant figure is the first non-zero digit to have place value.
- Truncation does not consider the digits that follow in the value.
- The loss of accuracy through rounding is not always bad.
Keywords
Round - Rounding means to change a number into another number that is approximately the same value but is easier to work with.
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.
Significant figures - Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to the accuracy of the number. The first significant figure is the first non-zero digit.
Truncation - Truncation is when we simplifying a number by 'cutting off' one or more of the digits and replacing them with zeros if necessary to preserve place value.
Common misconception
When truncating, pupils are tempted to round. Also, when truncating, they cut off the number without thinking about the magnitude.
The use of the place value table shows the magnitude of the number, thus preserving their place value when truncating.
To help you plan your year 10 maths lesson on: Checking and securing understanding of rounding and truncating, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 maths lesson on: Checking and securing understanding of rounding and truncating, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 maths lessons from the Rounding, estimation and bounds unit, dive into the full secondary maths curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Starter quiz
6 Questions
50
40
290
300
1400
1390
Exit quiz
6 Questions
0.011
0.012
0.010
10
11
12