Upper and lower bounds Ifa length is given as 10cm to the nearest cm then the actual length will lie in the interval 9.5 cm to 10.499 999... cm as all values in this interval will be rounded off to 10cm to the nearest cm. The length 10.499 999... cm is usually written as 10.5 cm. although it is accepted that 10.5.cm would be rounded to 11 cm (to the nearest cm). ‘The value 9.5 cm is called the lower bound as it is the lowest value which would be rounded to 10cm while 10.5 cm is called the upper bound. e.g. A rectangle ires 10.cm by 6cm where each ‘measurement is given to the nearest cm. Write down an interval approximation for the area of the rectangle. Lower bound (minimum area) = 9.5.x 5.5. 52.25 cm? Upper bound (maximum area) = 10.5 x 6.5 68.25 cm? The interval approximation is 52.25 ~ 68.25 cm? eg. Calculate the lower and upper bounds of: Jower bound upper bound 73000 given to the nearest 1000 7500 8500 7250 glven to the nearest 10 245 255, 4.13 given to 2 decimal places 4.125 4135 720.0 given to 3 significant figures 19.95 720.05 26 e.g. The value of p is 215 and the value of q is 5 with both figures being given to the nearest whole number, Calculate the maximum and minimum values of: ptap- Using Poin fon p+q maximum minimum Pq maximum = 215.5 - 4. minimum = 214.5 ~5.5 = 209 NB To get the maximum value of p ~ q you need to work out Prax — dain and to get the minimum value of P—q you need to Work Out Prin— dnax xq maximum = 215.5 x5.5 = 1185.25 minimum = 214.5 x 4.5 = 965.25 pq maximum 15.5, 47.888 888 minimum 39 NB To get the maximum value of p + q you need to work Out Prax + Gnin and to get the minimum value of p+ q you need to Work Out Pain * dnax