Estimating products involves using place value and compatible numbers to replace a factor, typically a two-digit whole number, with a nearby multiple of ten and then finding an approximate product, especially for two-digit-by-one-digit multiplication. The estimate preserves the product’s magnitude and supports judging whether an exact calculation is reasonable; it does not include decimal products, multi-digit-by-multi-digit estimation, or formal error bounds.
To estimate a product, replace the two-digit number with a nearby multiple of . Then multiply using the easier number.
Example: Estimate .
Round to the nearest ten.
is close to .
Replace with :
So, the estimated product is:
The answer is an estimate, so it may not be exact. It helps you decide whether an exact answer makes sense.
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