GCSE MATHEMATICS topic sheet.

UPPER AND LOWER BOUNDS

1) Plastic bricks are made in the form of cubes. The length of each brick is 11 3 cm, measured correct to
the nearest mm.

a) Write down the least and greatest value of the length of a brick.

b)The length of a shelf between two walls is 91 cm, measured correct to the nearest cm.

Explain, showing all your calculations, why it is not always possible to place eight bricks on the
shelf.

2) a) ‘Finite Toys’ make cubes of side 5.7 cm, correct to 1 decimal place.

Write down the range of possible values for the width of a cube.

b) Six of these cubes are placed side by side in a row. Calculate the range of possible values for the
length of the row of six cubes.

c) Box A has a width of 34 cm and box B has a width of 35 cm, both measured to the nearest cm.
Explain why you may not always be able to get the row of six cubes into box A along its width, but
you should be able to get the row of six into box B.

3) a) A cup can hold 250 ml of water, correct to the nearest 10 ml. Write down the range of values for
the capacity of the cup.

b) A bucket can hold 5 litres of water measured to the nearest litre. Write down the range of values
for the capacity of the bucket.

c) Explain clearly why it is always possible to pour 17 full cups of water into the bucket.

4) a) The length of a school hall, correct to the nearest metre, is 27m. Write down the least and greatest
possible values of the length of the hall.

b) Square carpet tiles have a length of 38 cm correct to the nearest cm. Write down the least and
greatest possible values for the length of the sides.

c) One row of tiles is laid side by side along the length of the hall. Neglecting any gaps between the
tiles, explain why 69 tiles is the least possible number of tiles needed to do this.
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ANSWERS.
1) a) Least = 11.25 cm, greatest = 11.35 cm,
b) min shelf = 90.5 cm, greatest possible width of 8 bricks = 8 × 11.35 = 90.8 cm. May not fit.
2) a) 5.65cm to 5.75cm, b) 33.9cm to 34.5cm.
3) a) 245ml to 255ml, b) 4.5l to 5.5l.
4) a) 26.5m to 27.5m, b) 37.5cm to 38.5cm.

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