Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
 
Adult ESOL Core CurriculumRead Write Plus

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Fractions N2/L2.5

Skills, knowledge and understanding Example

Adults should be taught to:

5 . order, approximate and compare decimals when solving practical problems

Compare currency exchange rates.

Round decimals to make approximate calculations.

Round answers on a calculator to the appropriate degree of accuracy.

  understand place value for whole numbers and up to three decimal places
  understand that decimals can be rounded to different degrees of accuracy, depending on the purpose

Sample activities

  • Order decimal lengths, weights, capacities.
  • Compare times from sprint races that are recorded in seconds to three decimal places.
  • Discuss rounding answers on a calculator and the degree of accuracy that might be appropriate, e.g. calculations with money, precise measurements.
  • Use the 'Decrease decimal' button on a spreadsheet to explore rounding decimals to different degrees of accuracy. Compare results with those obtained using the ROUND function.
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