06 Measurements and Bounds
If a number or measurement has been rounded, it can be important to consider what possible
values the exact value could have been. To describe all the possible values that a rounded
number could be, we use lower and upper bounds. The lower bound is the smallest value that
would round up to the estimated value. The upper bound is the smallest value that would round
up to the next estimated value. For example, a mass of 70 kg, rounded to the nearest 10 kg, has a
lower bound of 65 kg because 65 kg is the smallest mass that rounds to 70 kg. The upper bound
is 75 kg, because 75 kg is the smallest mass that would round up to 80 kg. This can be shown as
an inequality 65 kg ≤ m< ¿ 75 kg.
To find the lower bound and upper bound of 15.89 seconds, measured to the nearest 0.01 s,
1. The degree of accuracy is 0.01 s.
2. 0.01 ÷ 2 = 0.005
3. Lower Bound = 15.89 – 0.005 = 15.885 s
4. Upper Bound = 15.89 + 0.005 = 15.895 s
Here are some further examples:
Measurement Lower Bound Upper Bound
The diameter of a CD is 12 cm to the nearest
11.5 cm 12.5 cm
cm.
The mass of a coin is 6.2 g to the nearest 0.1 g. 6.15 g 6.25 g
The length of a fence is 330 m to the nearest 10
325 m 335 m
m.
Lower
Value Rounded to Unit +/- Upper Bound
Bound
0.032 0.001 0.001 0.0005 0.0315 0.0325
6.2 0.1 0.1 0.05 6.15 6.25
12 1 1 0.5 11.5 12.5
330 10 10 5 325 335
6000 100 100 50 5950 6050
6000 1000 1000 500 5500 6500
400 1 s.f. 100 50 350 450
400 2 s.f. 10 5 395 405
400 3 s.f. 1 0.5 399.5 400.5
0.4 1 s.f. 0.1 0.05 0.35 0.45
0.03 1 s.f. 0.01 0.005 0.025 0.035
30 2 s.f. 1 0.5 29.5 30.5
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When more than one value in a calculation has been rounded, the upper and lower bounds for
each value should be used in the calculation to find the maximum or minimum possible values
that the calculation can take. The following rules help to decide which bounds to use when
doing combinations and calculations.
Operation Rule
Upper Bound = Upper Bound + Upper Bound
Addition
Lower Bound = Lower Bound + Lower Bound
Upper Bound = Upper Bound – Lower Bound
Subtraction
Lower Bound = Lower Bound – Upper Bound
Upper Bound = Upper Bound × Upper Bound
Multiplication
Lower Bound = Lower Bound × Lower Bound
Upper Bound = Upper Bound ÷ Lower Bound
Division
Lower Bound = Lower Bound ÷ Upper Bound
Example
A field is measured to 34 m long and 28 m wide, to the nearest metre. Calculate the lower
and upper bounds for the area of the field.
Ans: 921.25 m2≤ Area ¿ 983.25 m2
Example
A motorbike travels a distance of 110 m to the nearest 10 m, in a time of 5 seconds to the
nearest second. Calculate the lower and upper bounds for the speed, s, in metres per
d
second (m/s), using the formula s= where d is the distance and t is the time.
t
Ans: 19.1 m/s ≤ Speed ¿ 25.6 m/s
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Example
A ball is dropped from a height of d metres. The time, t seconds, taken for the ball to reach
the ground is given by t=
√2d
g
where g is the acceleration due to gravity given that d=12.4
m correct to 3 significant figures and g=9.8 m/s2 correct to 2 significant figures. Calculate
the lower and upper bounds for the time taken for the ball to reach the ground.
Ans: 1.58 s ≤ Time ¿ 1.60 s
Exercise 6
1.
Ans: 87
2.
Ans: 34
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3.
Ans: 177.5
4.
Ans: 6
5.
Ans: 229.5225
6.
Ans: 7
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7.
Ans: a. 50 b, 12.3
8.
Ans: 121
9.
Ans: 6.50
10.
Ans: 70.7625; 72.4625
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11.
Ans: 2859.75; 2968.75
12.
Ans: 19.65
13.
Ans: 20.75
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14.
Ans: 28.35
15.
Ans: 10
16.
Ans: 10.4675 b. 34
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17.
Ans: 72.25
18.
Ans: 4.25; 4.15
19.
Ans: 44
20.
Ans: 18.45; 18.75
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