4 Summary

This unit has focused on estimation and how students can use this approach to concentrate on the mathematical ideas rather than on the detail and difficulty of working out an exact numerical answer. Estimation can help students understand what they are doing and why, as well as help them gain more marks in examinations because they notice if they have made a calculation error.

The activities include many ideas for giving a point to estimation so that it does not seem another chore to do when ‘doing mathematics’. They also show that working together can not support students’ thinking but also a reason to articulate their thinking, making it real and much easier to recall later.