Use Estimation to Answer Arithmetic Problems

Students can estimate the answer to a problem when a precise number answer is not needed. Estimation arrives at a sometimes accurate, but usually only approximate, answer to computation problems. Estimation can also be used in all computation activities to estimate answers in advance or to evaluate how reasonable an answer is. Students must learn how to estimate, when it is appropriate to estimate, and how close an estimate is required. Use the Talking Arithmetic Tutor to see how close estimated answers are to actual answers by following these steps:

1) Show a problem.
Put a problem on the screen either in the automatic or manual mode. Start practicing estimation with simple problems that have only two digits in the answer. In the automatic mode choose the lowest levels for this. Increase the difficulty level as the student gains more skills in computation and estimation.

2) Estimate the answer.
The student should try to estimate the answer to the problem on the screen. Depending on the number of digits in the answer, estimate the answer to the nearest ten, hundred, thousand, or ten thousand. The student can say or write down the estimation to compare with the answer later.

3) Solve the problem.
Click Start or Single Step to have the tutor show the solution.

4) Compare the answer with the estimation.
When the tutor is done solving the problem, look at the final answer. Compare the tutor's answer with the estimated answer. Decide how close the estimation is by looking at the place value you were trying to estimate. For example, if you were estimating to the closest hundred, look at the number of hundreds. Decide if the estimation was close enough. Talk about what could make the estimation more accurate.

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