How do you estimate #5 1/3-3 5/6#?

1 Answer
Apr 4, 2017

The estimate is #1#, which is the result of #5-4 = 1#

We can also see the actual value will be greater than one #(>1)#
since #5 1/3 > 5 and 3 5/6 < 4#

Explanation:

Given: #5 1/3 - 3 5/6#

To estimate this expression we round off each term:

#5 1/3 is close to #5#

#3 5/6 is close to #4#

Then subtracting: #5-4 = 1#

Actual value is: #5 1/3 - 3 5/6 = 16/3 - 23/6 = 32/6 - 23/6 = 9/6 = 1 3/6 = 1 1/2#