Max Maths, Year 6, Learn together, Word problems (3)

In a practical arithmetic problem aimed at Year 6 students, the task is to calculate the total volume of water held in three identical glasses, with each glass containing 0.33 litres of water. To begin, students are encouraged to make a reasonable estimate of the total volume before proceeding to the exact calculation. The estimation process simplifies the volume of one glass to 0.3 litres, which is a close approximation to the actual volume. By adding the estimated volumes of the three glasses (0.3 + 0.3 + 0.3), the students arrive at a total estimated volume of 0.9 litres. This estimation technique is beneficial for quick calculations and helps students develop a sense of the magnitude of the numbers they are working with.

Following the estimation, the problem guides students to calculate the precise total volume using the column multiplication method. By multiplying the actual volume of one glass (0.33 litres) by three, the exact total volume of water in the three glasses is determined to be 0.99 litres. This step-by-step approach, from estimation to accurate calculation, not only reinforces the concept of volume but also teaches students the importance of precision in mathematical problems. Such exercises are designed to enhance the students' numerical skills and their ability to apply these skills to solve real-world problems.