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8.5: Summary of Key Concepts

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    48882
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    Summary of Key Concepts

    Estimation
    Estimation is the process of determining an expected value of a computation.

    Estimation By Rounding
    The rounding technique estimates the result of a computation by rounding the numbers involved in the computation to one or two nonzero digits. For example, \(512 + 896\) can be estimated by \(500 + 900 = 1,400\).

    Cluster
    When several numbers are close to one particular number, they are said to cluster near that particular number.

    Estimation By Clustering
    The clustering technique of estimation can be used when

    there are more than two numbers to be added, and
    clustering occurs.

    For example, \(31 + 62 + 28 + 59\) can be estimated by
    \((2 \cdot 30) + (2 \cdot 60) = 60 + 120 = 180\)

    Distributive Property

    The distributive property is a characteristic of numbers that involves both addition and multiplication. For example,
    \(3(4 + 6) = 3 \cdot 4 + 3 \cdot 6 = 12 + 18 = 30\)

    Estimation Using the Distributive Property
    The distributive property can be used to obtain exact results for a multiplication.
    For example,
    \(15 \cdot 23 = 15 \cdot (20 + 3) = 15 \cdot 20 + 15 \cdot 3 = 300 + 45 = 345\)

    Estimation by Rounding Fractions
    Estimation by rounding fractions commonly rounds fractions to \(\dfrac{1}{4}, \dfrac{1}{2}, \dfrac{3}{4}\), 0 and 1.
    For example,
    \(\dfrac{5}{12} + \dfrac{5}{16}\) can be estimated by \(\dfrac{1}{2} + \dfrac{1}{4} = \dfrac{3}{4}\).


    This page titled 8.5: Summary of Key Concepts is shared under a CC BY license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Denny Burzynski & Wade Ellis, Jr. (OpenStax CNX) .

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