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Cambridge IGCSE Maths (0580) · Topic 1: Number · 1.9

Cambridge IGCSE Maths 0580 Estimation and Rounding Questions

Estimation and Rounding questions with worked answers for Cambridge IGCSE Mathematics (0580). Each question says whether it is Core or Extended and whether it is for a calculator or non-calculator paper. Try each one before you open the answer.

Practise estimation and rounding →Estimation and Rounding notes

What the syllabus asks

Summarised in our own words: check the exact wording in the official 0580 syllabus.

Estimation and Rounding questions: Core

For everyone: Core students (Papers 1 and 3) and Extended students (Papers 2 and 4).

Question 1 Core non-calculator · easy

Round \(26.849\)
(a) to 1 decimal place
(b) to 2 significant figures
(c) to the nearest \(10\).

Show the worked answer
  1. (a) The second decimal digit is \(4\), so round down: \(26.8\).
  2. (b) The third figure is \(8\), so round up: \(27\).
  3. (c) \(26.849\) is nearer \(30\) than \(20\).

Answer: (a) \(26.8\) (b) \(27\) (c) \(30\)

Question 2 Core non-calculator · easy

Round \(15\,692\) to 2 significant figures.

Show the worked answer
  1. The first two figures are \(1\) and \(5\); the next figure is \(6\), so round up to \(16\) thousand.

Answer: \(16\,000\)

Question 3 Core non-calculator · easy · 2 marks

By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, estimate the value of \(\dfrac{49.7 \times 3.12}{0.198}\). Show your working.

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • M1 50 × 3 ÷ 0.2
  • A1 750

Answer: \(750\)

Question 4 Core non-calculator · medium

By rounding each number to 1 significant figure, estimate the value of \(\frac{41.3 \times 9.8}{0.49}\).
Show your working.

Show the worked answer
  1. \(41.3 \approx 40\), \(9.8 \approx 10\), \(0.49 \approx 0.5\)
  2. \(\frac{40 \times 10}{0.5} = \frac{400}{0.5} = 800\)

Answer: \(800\)

Question 5 Core non-calculator · medium

Estimate the value of \(\sqrt{63.7} \times 4.1\). Show your working.

Show the worked answer
  1. \(63.7 \approx 64\), so \(\sqrt{63.7} \approx 8\). \(4.1 \approx 4\).
  2. \(8 \times 4 = 32\)

Answer: \(32\)

Question 6 Core non-calculator · medium

A theatre sells \(197\) tickets at $\(4.85\) each.
Estimate the total amount of money taken.

Show the worked answer
  1. \(197 \approx 200\) and \(4.85 \approx 5\).
  2. \(200 \times 5 = 1000\)

Answer: $\(1000\)

Question 7 Core non-calculator · medium

Estimate the value of \(\frac{6.12^2 - 19.7}{\sqrt{24.6}}\). Show your working.

Show the worked answer
  1. Round to easy numbers: \(6.12 \approx 6\), \(19.7 \approx 20\), and \(24.6 \approx 25\) so that the square root is exact: \(\sqrt{25} = 5\).
  2. \(\frac{6^2 - 20}{5} = \frac{36 - 20}{5} = \frac{16}{5} = 3.2\)

Answer: \(3.2\)

Question 8 Core calculator · medium · 2 marks

350 people are going on a trip. Each minibus can carry 16 people. How many minibuses are needed?

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • M1 350 ÷ 16 (= 21.875)
  • A1 22

Answer: \(22\)

Question 9 Core calculator · medium · 2 marks

Work out \(\dfrac{\sqrt{29.8}}{0.51 \times 4.2}\). Give your answer correct to 2 decimal places.

Show the answer and mark scheme
  • M1 5.458… or 2.142 seen
  • A1 2.55

Answer: \(2.55\)

Question 10 Core non-calculator · hard

Estimate the value of \(\frac{0.0391 \times 598}{2.03}\). Show your working.

Show the worked answer
  1. \(0.0391 \approx 0.04\), \(598 \approx 600\), \(2.03 \approx 2\)
  2. \(0.04 \times 600 = 24\)
  3. \(24 \div 2 = 12\)

Answer: \(12\)

Every question on this page is original, written for IGCSE Math Revision rather than taken from Cambridge papers, and each answer was re-solved independently before publishing. Questions with a mark scheme come from our 0580 practice bank (M method, A accuracy, B independent marks).

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Questions students ask

Which Cambridge 0580 papers can test estimation and rounding?

Estimation and Rounding is on both tiers (syllabus 1.9), so it can come up on Core Papers 1 (non-calculator) and 3 (calculator), and Extended Papers 2 (non-calculator) and 4 (calculator). Extended candidates also need the Extended parts listed on this page. Half of each tier's marks are on a non-calculator paper, so practise the non-calculator questions without one.

Are these Cambridge past-paper questions?

No. Every question here was written for IGCSE Math Revision in the style of the 0580 papers, and each answer was checked independently before publishing. For real exam practice, use the Cambridge past papers linked from our 0580 past papers page.

Where can I practise more estimation and rounding questions?

In the 0580 practice for topic 1 (Number), where every question is marked and tagged Core or Extended. Practice is part of the IGCSE plan, with a free preview; the questions on this page are free.

More number questions