Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Rounding numbers (1)

In a mathematics lesson for Year 6, students learn the concept of rounding numbers to the nearest hundred or thousand. The lesson begins with a practical example where Samir discovers that the city of Kingston has a population of 701,163. Students are asked to round this number to the nearest hundred. The correct answer, 701,200, is determined by looking at which hundred the number is closest to. This is expressed as 701,163 ≈ 701,200, with the symbol '≈' meaning 'approximately equal to'. This example helps students understand how to round numbers up or down based on their proximity to the nearest hundred.

The lesson continues with another example where the number 1,278, representing a concert attendance, is to be rounded to the nearest thousand. Since 1,278 is closer to 1,000 than to 2,000, students learn that it rounds down to 1,000, written as 1,278 ≈ 1,000. Finally, the concept of rounding up when a number is exactly in the middle is introduced with the number 3,250. This number is equidistant from 3,200 and 3,300, and the rule is to round up in such cases. Hence, 3,250 is rounded to 3,300, expressed as 3,250 ≈ 3,300. Through these examples, students become familiar with the process of rounding numbers to the nearest hundred and thousand, an essential skill in everyday mathematics.