Quick and absolute solution for the bounds! Mastering bounds comes down to one golden rule: find the unit of precision, cut it in half, and apply it. Once you lock in that pattern, you can calculate upper and lower bounds instantly.
How to follow the lesson:
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Step 2. Work on practice quizzes. Score will be added.
Step 3. Work on exam style questions. Add your score.
Step 4. Total score will be sent out to UT and to yourself.
Please read through these key concepts carefully and copy them into your exercise book before moving forward. 📓
Core Level 🔵
1. Core Concept: Rounding & Degree of Accuracy
In real life, measurements are never 100% exact. When a quantity is rounded (e.g., to the nearest 1 cm, 10 g, or 50 m), the true value lies inside a range bounded by a Lower Bound (LB) and an Upper Bound (UB). 🔍
Lower Bound (LB) ⬇️: The smallest possible value that rounds up to your number.
Upper Bound (UB) ⬆️: The maximum cutoff value that rounds down to your number.
⚡ The Golden Rule for Bounds (Works for ANY rounding rule!)
Step 1: Take the degree of accuracy and divide it by 2. ➗
Step 2:
Lower Bound = Given Value − Half-Unit ➖
Upper Bound = Given Value + Half-Unit ➕
📊 Visual Diagram 1: Number Line Representation for 162 cm (nearest 1 cm)
Note: The solid circle (●) means included (≤), while the hollow circle (◯) means excluded (<).
💡 Inequality Notation Rule:
Always write the range as 161.5 ≤ height < 162.5.
• Lower bound uses ≤ because 161.5 rounds UP to 162.
• Upper bound uses < because 162.5 would round up to 163! 🛑
Extended Level 🟠
2. Extended Concept: Combining Bounds in Calculations 🧮
When performing arithmetic operations with rounded values, choose extreme combinations to find maximum or minimum outcomes:
🎯 Extended Worked Example (Speed = Distance ÷ Time):
Distance D = 150 km (nearest 10 km) ➔ LB = 145 km, UB = 155 km
Time T = 2 hours (nearest 0.1 hr) ➔ LB = 1.95 hrs, UB = 2.05 hrs
To calculate Maximum Speed, take the Largest Distance divided by the Smallest Time: Max Speed = UB of Distance ÷ LB of Time = 155 ÷ 1.95 = 79.49 km/h (2 d.p.) 🚗💨
Tutor Verification 👨🏫
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Stage 2: Practice Quizzes 🎯🕹️
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Stage 3: Exam-Style Structured Questions ✍️📄
⏱️ Recommended Time Allocation: SET UP A TIMER!25 Minutes
Solve these questions step-by-step in your notebook before revealing the official mark scheme.
Core Level Questions 🔵 (6 Marks)
A bag of sugar is labeled 500 g to the nearest 10 g. Write down the lower bound. [1]
The length of a table is given as 180 cm to the nearest 5 cm. Find the upper bound. [1]
A fence is measured as 25 m to the nearest meter. Express the range of length L as an inequality. [2]
The width of a card is 8.5 cm to 1 decimal place. Write down the upper bound. [1]
A container holds 1200 ml to the nearest 50 ml. Calculate its lower bound. [1]
Extended Level Questions 🟠 (13 Marks)
A rectangle has length A = 8 cm and width B = 5 cm (both to nearest whole cm). Calculate the upper bound for its total area. [2]
Using values from Q6, calculate the lower bound for its perimeter. [2]
Given V = A ÷ B, where A = 100 (nearest 10) and B = 4 (nearest whole unit). Calculate the maximum possible value of V. [3]
Mass M = 50 kg (nearest 5 kg) and Volume V = 10 m³ (nearest m³). Calculate the lower bound for density (Density = Mass ÷ Volume). [3]
Distance D = 150 km (nearest 10 km) in Time T = 2 hours (nearest 0.1 hr). Calculate the upper bound for average speed in km/h. [3]
⚠️ Have you allocated your 25 minutes and attempted every question on paper?
Official Mark Scheme & Step-by-Step Explanations 🔑
Core Mark Scheme
1. Answer: 495 g [1] Explanation: Degree of accuracy = 10 g. Half-unit = 10 ÷ 2 = 5 g. LB = 500 − 5 = 495 g.
2. Answer: 182.5 cm [1] Explanation: Degree of accuracy = 5 cm. Half-unit = 5 ÷ 2 = 2.5 cm. UB = 180 + 2.5 = 182.5 cm.
3. Answer: 24.5 ≤ L < 25.5 [2] Explanation: Accuracy = 1 m. Half-unit = 0.5 m. LB = 24.5, UB = 25.5. Range written as inequality: 24.5 ≤ L < 25.5.
4. Answer: 8.55 cm [1] Explanation: Accuracy = 0.1 cm (1 d.p.). Half-unit = 0.1 ÷ 2 = 0.05 cm. UB = 8.5 + 0.05 = 8.55 cm.
6. Answer: 46.75 cm² [2] Explanation: Accuracy = 1 cm ➔ Half-unit = 0.5 cm. UB of A = 8.5 cm, UB of B = 5.5 cm. Max Area = 8.5 × 5.5 = 46.75 cm².
7. Answer: 24 cm [2] Explanation: LB of A = 7.5 cm, LB of B = 4.5 cm. Min Perimeter = 2 × (LB_A + LB_B) = 2 × (7.5 + 4.5) = 24 cm.
8. Answer: 30 [3] Explanation: For A (nearest 10): UB = 105. For B (nearest unit): LB = 3.5. To maximize division, Max V = UB_A ÷ LB_B = 105 ÷ 3.5 = 30.
9. Answer: 4.52 kg/m³ (3 s.f.) [3] Explanation: Mass LB = 47.5 kg (nearest 5 kg). Volume UB = 10.5 m³ (nearest 1 m³). Min Density = LB_M ÷ UB_V = 47.5 ÷ 10.5 = 4.52 kg/m³.
10. Answer: 79.49 km/h (2 d.p.) [3] Explanation: Distance UB = 155 km (nearest 10 km). Time LB = 1.95 hrs (nearest 0.1 hr). Max Speed = UB_D ÷ LB_T = 155 ÷ 1.95 = 79.49 km/h.