UPPER AND LOWER

BOUNDS
If the length of a nail is given as 6 cm correct to the nearest cm, you
can find the lower bound and upper bound for the length of the nail.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

lower bound upper bound

The lower bound is halfway between 5 cm and 6 cm.

Lower bound = 5.5 cm
The upper bound is halfway between 6 cm and 7 cm.
Upper bound = 6.5 cm
The range of possible values for the length of the nail can be written as:
5.5 cm ≤ length < 6.5 cm
1 The mass of a baby is 3.7 kg correct to one decimal place.
Write down the upper and lower bounds for the mass of the baby.

You need to think of the numbers (to 1 d.p.)

3.6 3.7 3.8 directly below 3.7 and directly above 3.7.
These are 3.6 and 3.8.
Lower bound Upper bound

The lower bound is halfway between 3.6 and 3.7.

Lower bound = 3.65 cm

The upper bound is halfway between 3.7 and 3.8.

Upper bound = 3.75 cm
2 A rectangle has sides of length 4.3 cm and 6.6 cm each correct to the
nearest millimetre.
Calculate the upper and lower bounds for the perimeter of the rectangle.

For the lower bound use: For the upper bound use:
6.55 cm 6.65 cm

4.25 cm 4.35 cm

Lower bound = 6.55 + 4.25 + 6.55 + 4.25 = 21.6 cm

Upper bound = 6.65 + 4.35 + 6.65 + 4.35 = 22 cm

3 The lengths of two planks of wood correct to the nearest centimetre, are
149 cm and 233 cm.
149 cm
Plank A
233 cm
Plank B

a Calculate the upper bound for the total length of the two planks of wood.
Upper bound = upper bound for plank A + upper bound for plank B
= 149.5 + 233.5 = 383 cm
b Calculate the upper bound for the difference in length for the two planks
of wood.
Upper bound = upper bound for plank B – lower bound for plank A

= 233.5 − 148.5 = 85 cm