Approximation : Decimal Places

In approximating a decimal number correct to n decimal places, we have to look at the digit value of
the ( n+1)th decimal place, if the digit value of the (n+1)th decimal place is greater than or equal to
5,then we have to add 1 to the nth decimal place digit, otherwise, we do not add the 1,

Example 14

(a) Express each of the following numbers correct to the number of decimal places stated:
1. 6.07 (1 d.p.) 2. 84.345 ( 2 d.p.)
3. 124.09781 (3 d.p.) 4. 93.943973 ((4 d.p.)

(b) Calculate the value of:

1. 27.45 x 13.93 correct to 2 decimal places
2. 0.0479 ÷ 0.00312 correct to 4 decimal places.

Solution

1. Now 6.07 = 6.0|7 ≈6.0 + 0.1 = 6.1 (correct to 1 d.p)

2. Now 84.345 = 84.34|5 = 84.34 + 0.01 =84.35 (correct to 2 d.p.)
3. Now 124.09781 = 124.097|81 = 124.097+0.001 =124.098 ( correct to 3 d.p.)
4. Now 93.943973 =93.9439|73 = 93.9439+0.0001 = 93.9440 ( correct to 4 d.p.)
5. Now 27.45 x 13.93 = 382.37|85 = 382.38 ( correct to 2 d.p.)
6. Now 0.0479 ÷0.00312 = 15.352|641 = 15.3526 ( correct to 4 d.p.)

Recurring Decimals

many fractions cannot be written as an exact decimal fraction because they do not terminate.

Such fractions are called recurring decimals, because they do not terminate, and one or more
decimal digits keeps recurring. A dot is placed at the top of the decimal digit that recurs, if more than
1 digit recurs, then a dot is placed on the first and last digits that recur.

Example 15.

a. Write each of the following fractions as recurring decimals:

1 1 3
1. 6
2. 12
3. 11

5 7 9
12
5. 11
6. 11
 b. Write each of the following decimals as fractions, correct to the number of decimal places
given in brackets.

2 5 2
1. 11
(5 d.p.) 2. 6
(4 d.p.) 3. 3
( 3 d.p.)

1
a. Now 6
= 0.1666=0.16 ( recurring decimal)

1
b. Now 12
= 0.0833=0.083 ( recurring decimal)

3
c. Now 11
= 0.2727 =0.27 ( recurring decimal)

5
d. Now 12
=0.4166 = 0.416 ( recurring decimal)

7
e. Now 11
= 0.6363 = 0.63 ( recurring decimal)

9
f. Now 11
= 0..8181 =0.81 ( recurring decimal)

2
1. Now 11
= 0.18181|8 = 0.18182 ( correct to 5 d.p.)
5
2. Now 6
= 0.8333|3 = 0.8333 ( correct to 4 d.p.)
2
3. Now 3
= 0.666|6 = 0.667 ( correct to3 d.p.)

Exercise 3k

1. Write 25.0347 as a decimal correct to 3 decimal places.

2. Write 15.403 correct to two decimal places.
3. State each of the following numbers correct to 2 decimal places:
a. 5.126 b. 0.085 c. 3.999
4. State each of the following numbers correct to the number of decimal places given in the
bracket.
a. 5.05 ( 1 d.p) b. 286.598 ( 2 d.p.) c. 0.003921 ( 4 d.p.) d. 0.0088 ( 3 d,p,)

5. Write each of the following numbers correct to the number of decimal places given in the
brackets.
a. 5.06 (1 d.p.) b. 289.597 (2 d.p.) c. 0.003924 ( 4 d.p.) d. 0.0085 (3 d.p.)

6. Give 9.7814 correct to:

 a. The nearest whole number b. 1 decimal place c. 3 decimal place
7. Calculate the value of 0.1394 ÷0.004 correct to 2 decimal places.

Approximation : significant figures

In approximating a number correct to a significant figure, we have to look at the digit value of the (
n+1)th significant figure. If the digit value of the (n+1) th significant figure is greater than or equal to
5, then we have to add 1 to the nth significant figure. Otherwise, we do not add the 1. It should also
be noted that the first significant figure cannot be zero. However, zero can be a significant figure
otherwise. The first significant figure of a number is the first non-zero digit that occurs in he number,
reading from left to right.

Example 16

a. Express the number 105.8054 correct to the number of significant figures stated below.
1. 6 sf 2. 5 sf 3. 4 sf 4. 3 sf 5. 2 sf 6. 1 sf

b. Express the number 0.005807016 correct to the number of significant figures stated below.
1. 6sf 2. 5 sf 3. 4 sf 4. 3 sf 5. 2 sf 6. 1 sf

a. Now 105.8054 = 105.805|4 = 105.805 ( correct to 6 sf)

b. Now 105.8054 = 105.80|54 = 105.81 ( correct to 5 sf)
c. Now 105.8045 = 105.8|054 = 105.8 (correct to 4 sf)
d. Now 105.8054 =105.|8054 = 106 (correct o 3 sf)
e. Now 105.8054 = 10|58054 = 110 ( correct to 2 sf)
f. Now 105.8054 = 1|05.8054 = 100 ( correct to 1 sf)

a. Now 0.005807016 = 0.00580701|6 = 0.00580702 ( correct to 6 s)

b. Now 0.005807016 = 0.0058070|16 = 0.0058070 ( correct to 5 sf)
c. Now 0.005807016 = 0.005807|016 = 0.005807 ( correct to 4 sf )
d. Now 0.005807016 = 0.00580|7016 =0.005801 ( correct to 3 sf)
e. Now 0.005807016 =0.0058|07016 = 0.0058 ( correct to 2 sf)
f. Now 0.005807016 = 0.005|807016 = 0.006 ( correct to 1 sf)

Exercise 3l

1. Write 19.407 correct to three significant figures.

2. Write 0.005483 correct to 2 significant figures.
 3. Give the following numbers correct to the number of significant figures indicated in the
brackets.

a. 475.83107 ( 4 sf) b. 59.07203 ( 3 sf) c. 0.0000683 ( 2 sf) d. 0.0498502 ( 1sf)

4. Give the following numbers correct to the number of significant figures indicated in the
brackets.
a. 478.83106 (4sf) b. 58.07302 (3s.f.) c. 0.000682 (2s.f.) d. 0.0498502 (1s.f.)
⁵
5. State 9862 correct to 1 significant figure.
6. State 0.050706 correct to two significant figures.
7. Determine the value of (0.543)².

Standard form or scientific notation.

A rational number which is written in the form ax10”, where 1 ≤𝑎 < 10 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛 ∈𝑍 is said to be
written in standard form ( or scientific notation). This notation is widely used in science and
engineering in order to represent very large and very small numbers.

Example 17

a. Express each of the following numbers in standard form.

1. 841902 2. 0.00047935
b. Express each of the following numbers in scientific notation,
1. 749543 (correct to 3 s.f.) 2. 0.00057849 (correct to 3 s.f.)

1. Now 841902 = 8.41902 X 100 000 = 8.41902 X 10⁵ (in standard form)
1
2. Now 0.00047935 = 47935 X 10000
= 4.7935 X10 ̄⁴ (in standard form)

1. Now 749|543 X10⁵ = 7.50 X 10⁵ (correct to 3s.f)

2. Now 0.00057849 = 5.7849 X10̄⁴ (correct to 3s.f.)

Exercise 3m

1. Write each of the following numbers in standard form.

a. 7438 b. 12149
2. State each of the following numbers in scientific notation.
a. 0.00479 b. 0.09431
3. Express each of the following numbers in standard form.
a. 15.78 b. 224.09
4. Write each of the following numbers in scientific notation
a. 847.08 b. 12436.3
5. Express each of the following numbers in scientific notation.
 a. 0.04798 b. 0.0000345
6. Write 0.009352 in standard form.
b. State your answer to part a correct to
a. Three significant figures
b. One decimal place
7. Write in standard form.
a. 3850 000 000 b. 0.000 000 007 308