Number Sense Math Example 2

Follow the full solution, then compare it with the other examples linked below.

Example 2

medium
A school has 483 students. Each classroom holds about 30 students. Approximately how many classrooms are needed?

Solution

  1. 1
    Round 483 to a nearby friendly number: 483≈480483 \approx 480.
  2. 2
    Divide: 480÷30=16480 \div 30 = 16.
  3. 3
    Since 483>480483 > 480, we need slightly more than 16 — round up to 17 classrooms.

Answer

≈17 classrooms\approx 17 \text{ classrooms}
Number sense guides us to round to convenient numbers, divide, and then adjust based on whether we need a ceiling (more than calculated) or floor. In context, you always need whole classrooms.

About Number Sense

An intuitive understanding of numbers, their relative size, and how they relate to each other and to real quantities.

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More Number Sense Examples

Example 1 easy

Without calculating exactly, determine which is greater: [formula] or [formula].

Example 3 easy

Place the following numbers on a mental number line from smallest to largest: [formula], [formula],

Example 4 medium

Without a calculator, is [formula] closer to [formula] or to [formula]? Explain.

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