Max Maths, Year 2, Try it, Rounding numbers (1)

In the 'Max Maths, Year 2' curriculum, pupils are learning the concept of rounding numbers to the nearest ten. For example, when asked to round the number 82, students determine that it is closer to 80 than to 90. Therefore, they conclude that 82, when rounded to the nearest ten, is approximately 80. This is represented by the equation 82 ≈ 80. Similarly, they learn that the number 56 is closer to 60 than to 50, leading to the conclusion that 56 rounded to the nearest ten is approximately 60, which is written as 56 ≈ 60.

The lesson also covers what happens when a number is exactly halfway between two tens. For instance, the number 35 is equidistant from 30 and 40. In such cases, the rule is to round up to the next ten, so 35 is rounded up to 40, written as 35 ≈ 40. To put this into practice, students are encouraged to use a number line. For the exercise of rounding 42 to the nearest ten, they would look at a number line with 30, 40, and 50 marked on it. They would see that 42 is closer to 40 than to 50, and thus round it down, resulting in 42 ≈ 40 when rounded to the nearest ten.